OU Softball: Oklahoma Hammers Texas A&M at the Mary Nutter Classic
Oklahoma’s hot start at the Mary Nutter Classic continued into Friday evening.
Immediately after dominating Cal State Fullerton in OU’s opener, the Sooners outpaced Texas A&M with an 8-0 win in five innings from Cathedral City, CA.
Though the Sooners (10-1) strolled to victory, Texas A&M (11-3) threatened first.
Nicole May allowed back-to-back-to-back singles to start the game in the top of the first inning, loading the bases with no outs.
But the OU veteran didn’t waiver. The right-hander fired three straight strikeouts to work her way out of the jam and strand the trio of Aggies on the bases.
Oklahoma’s offense seized the momentum, immediately jumping on Texas A&M.
Jayda Coleman drew a walk and a Grace Lyons single put runners on first and second base with no outs.
Tiare Jennings then grounded into a fielder’s choice, and the Aggies smartly tossed the ball over to third to get the lead runner, but a wild pitch allowed Lyons and Jennings to advance to second and third.
OU catcher Kinzie Hansen then plated the first run of the contest, scoring Lyons after grounding into a fielder’s choice of her own.
Nerves then set in for the Aggie defense.
An error saw Haley Lee reach base, and Alynah Torres brought Hansen home with an RBI-single straight up the middle.
Another mistake extended OU’s lead.
Rylie Boone sent a dribbler toward Texas A&M first baseman Trinity Cannon, but Cannon was unable corral the ball and it bounced off her foot and deflected back toward second base.
Smart base running allowed the Sooners to capitalize on the mistake, as Lee and Torres both scored to extend the lead to 4-0.
May settled in, and OU’s offense picked back up in the third inning.
Hansen got herself aboard, capitalizing on another Aggie error, and then Lee singled to again start the frame off by putting two runners aboard with no outs.
Alyssa Brito extended the lead to 5-0 with a single to left field, but Lee was thrown out in a bang-bang play at the plate.
In the ensuing at-bat, Boone drew a walk to put two runners on for true freshman Jocelyn Erickson, who continued her hot start to the year.
Erickson hammered a ball over the fence deep to center field, pushing the OU advantage to 8-0 and putting the game into run rule territory.
Jordy Bahl entered the game for May in the fifth inning to close out the win.
May ended the game with five strikeouts after facing 18 batters in four innings, only allowing one walk and five hits.
The Sooners will return to action with a pair of games on Saturday, facing off against Utah and Loyola Marymount.
Up first, Oklahoma will take the field against the Utes at 11:30 a.m., and the game will be broadcast on FloSoftball.
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