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    OU Softball: Iowa State Postgame (3/10/24)

    OU Softball: Oklahoma Blasts Past Iowa State, Sweeps Opening Big 12 Series

    Oklahoma hit six home runs on Sunday to sweep Iowa State as the Sooners opened Big 12 play for the final time.

    NORMAN — A pair of monster two-run blasts provided all the separation needed for Oklahoma to sweep Iowa State.

    The top-ranked Sooners got a no doubter from Tiare Jennings in the first inning and Kinzie Hansen doubled the lead with a three-run shot of her own in the third.

    OU’s lineup continued to pour it on, as the Sooners beat the Cyclones 14-1 in five innings at Love’s Field on Sunday.

    Final Box Score

    Final Box Score

    As expected, Oklahoma sits atop the Big 12 after opening weekend at 21-1 overall and 3-0 in league play. Iowa State fell to 9-13 on the year and are in an early 0-3 hole in conference action after the weekend.

    "That was Sooner style," OU coach Patty Gasso said after the win on Sunday. "We feel like we’re starting to trend that way. We found some things that really resonated and fought throughout. 

    "Pitching was outstanding this weekend. Defense very good. Some timely hitting. Just a really complete weekend, specifically games two and three."

    Back-to-back walks from Alyssa Brito and Cydney Sanders put the pair aboard for Jennings’ home run in the first inning. Freshman Ella Parker singled after Jennings made her trip around the bases, but the Sooners couldn’t add any more than the three runs in the first inning.

    Jennings had a chance to inflict more damage in the second inning, however.

    She stepped in with the bases loaded and two outs, but grounded out to Iowa State’s first baseman.

    Oklahoma ensured it didn’t squander any other opportunities in the third inning.

    Parker’s nice day continued with a double, and Jayda Coleman’s walk brought Hansen up.

    She stared at three balls and a strike before barreling up the fifth pitch of the at-bat, launching it over the left field wall.

    "My first at-bat I was kind of swinging at pitches out of my zone," Hansen said. "... But she wasn’t gonna beat me again. So when she came — I knew it was gonna come, that little (inside pitch), and so I was expecting it."

    Avery Hodge’s single then turned into a run after Kasidi Pickering doubled off the wall in dead-center field.

    Pickering had the best seat in the house to watch Sanders continue her hot streak.

    She swung at the first pitch, pelting it all the way over the shorter set of stands in right field.

    The deep shot was Sanders’ fourth home run of the weekend, and she leads the Sooners with eight on the year.

    Alynah Torres got aboard with a single, and Parker punctuated her excellent day at the plate with a two-run bomb of her own to extend OU’s lead to 11-0 at the end of the third inning.

    In the fourth inning, Gasso changed around virtually every position on the field.

    Pitcher Paytn Monticelli took over for starter Kierston Deal in the circle, as Deal enjoyed another efficient outing.

    The left-hander struck out four Iowa State batters and allowed one hit in three total innings of work.

    Monticelli settled in, striking out the first two batters of the fourth before Carli Spelhaug belted a solo home run for the Cyclones.

    OU added to the lead again in the bottom half of the inning.

    Freshman Maya Bland doubled for her first collegiate hit, moving Riley Ludlam over to third for Quincee Lilio.

    With two outs, Lilio crushed another three-run home run, pushing the lead to 14-1.

    Parker and Pickering tallied the only multi-hit games for the Sooners, as Parker ended 3-for-3 and Pickering finished 2-for-4.

    Monticelli returned in the fifth inning to record the first out before making way for SJ Geurin to close out the win.

    Oklahoma will step back out of Big 12 play on Tuesday to host a double-header against Tarleton State. The first contest of the game will begin at 4:30 p.m., and both contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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