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OU Softball: Oklahoma Closes DH with Abilene Christian Run Rule

The Sooners fell behind twice on Monday, but rallied late in the opener and then pulled away with an easy victory over the Wildcats.
John Hoover|
Oklahoma first baseman Cydney Sanders
Oklahoma first baseman Cydney Sanders | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

NORMAN — Spectacular defense, reliable pitching and home runs — really long home runs — are the standard at Oklahoma.

But the Sooners can also play with focus and grit when they need to.

Monday at Love’s Field, OU took a couple of early shots from Bowling Green and Abilene Christian and each time responded. After an eight-inning win over the Falcons, the Sooners closed out the Norman Tournament with a 9-1 run-rule victory over ACU.

The Sooners eventually loosened up at the plate and got going in the later innings of the nightcap, but were uneven at best in the tense win over Bowling Green.

"Wasn't really pleased with what we were doing throughout the game," coach Patty Gasso said. "I thought we were just a little listless. We just weren't getting anything — if we'd connect, they'd make a play. It was more frustrating than anything because they kept making plays. And credit them for that."

No. 2-ranked Oklahoma improved to 14-0 and has now won 17 consecutive games dating back to last season. Abilene Christian fell to 3-12. Love's Field attendance for the weekend, despite the weather-adjusted schedule, was 12,347.

Like Bowling Green, the Wildcats unexpectedly got out early against the Sooners with a run in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Taylor Bachmeyer reached on an error by OU starter Paytn Monticelli, then took second on a passed ball. Valerie Ornelas blooped an RBI single to right field as Bachmeyer slid home for a 1-0 lead.

Oklahoma Sooners

Ailana Agbayani walked to start OU’s first inning, then stole second and went to third on Ella Parker’s foul-out to left. But Cydney Sanders popped out and Kasidi Pickering grounded out to quell the rally.

Sanders and Monticelli turned in an unusual defensive gem in the second inning. Isabel Martinez smashed a ball back up the middle and it caromed off Monticelli’s left leg and rolled almost directly to Sanders, who scooped it and stretched to tag out Martinez halfway up the base path.

Sanders set off fireworks in the third inning when she crushed a two-out, two-run home run over the right field wall to put Oklahoma on the scoreboard with a 2-1 lead. Parker drew a walk just ahead of Sanders, who turned on a 1-0 pitch from Abilene Christian starter Lina Russo. 

It was Sanders’ second home run of the day after she blasted a grand slam in the earlier 8-5 win over Bowling Green.

Pickering followed Sanders’ homer with a walk, then raced home on Nelly McEnroe-Marinas’ double to the gap that stuck under the wall padding in right-center field for a 3-1 lead. 

Abigale Dayton then bounced an RBI single up the middle to score McEnroe-Marinas to give OU a 4-1 lead.

Isabella Smith relieved Monticelli to open the fourth inning and quickly recorded two strikeouts.

Sanders delivered her seventh RBI of the day in the bottom of the fourth when she plated Agbayani, who was plunked and stole second. After Parker drew a walk, Sanders rolled and 0-1 pitch up the middle to make it 5-1.

"I think Cyd looks at this and says — I don't know if I'm speaking for her — but it's her senior year, 'Let's go for it. Let's go for it.' And her body looks great. I mean, she's been really working hard to be her best this year, and right now, she's really showing it."

Sanders said she's had a different outlook on things since being Baptized on Feb. 22.

"I just feel, like, literally, everything's just free," she said. "Like, I haven't really, like, nothing's really affected me. Like, if I do bad, or if I do good, it's all kind of like, equal, I guess. I didn't even know I hit seven RBIs, if I’m being honest."

OU added to it in the fifth when McEnroe-Marinas opened with a double and scored on Maya Bland’s single through the right side — Bland’s first hit of the season after starting 0-for-9.

Russo loaded the bases after that as Isabela Emerling followed Bland’s hit with a single up the middle and Gabbie Garcia walked. Bland came home on Agbayani’s sacrifice fly to left to put Oklahoma on top 7-1.

Parker ended it with a double to the wall in left center that scored Garcia from second.

"Walk-offs are always a fun way to win," Gasso said. "This team is still learning how to celebrate. What is safe to do? What isn't safe to do? Walk-offs, everything goes. You get to celebrate however and wherever you want. So that was a big moment for us."

The Sooners are back in action this weekend when they host Marshall and Kansas in a doubleheader on Friday and then bring back both teams for another twin bill on Saturday and face Kansas City on Sunday.

OU opens its first season in SEC play next weekend in Norman against South Carolina. 

Published | Modified
John E. Hoover
JOHN HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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