OU Softball: Oklahoma Notches Another Ranked Win Over Kentucky

NORMAN — Oklahoma’s hot hitting against Kentucky carried into Saturday.

A big second inning powered the top-ranked Sooners to their second straight ranked win over the No. 17 Wildcats.

Jayda Coleman put the pressure on with a three-run shot in the frame, helping OU handle Kentucky 7-1 at Marita Hynes Field.

The win was Oklahoma’s eighth straight victory, moving the Sooners to 16-1 on the year while Kentucky fell to 11-5-1.

Jordy Bahl dominated in the circle while OU’s offense hummed, retiring the first 11 batters she faced in win.

With two outs on the scoreboard, the Sooner bats again found their rhythm in the second inning.

An Alyssa Brito single paired with Sophia Nugent drawing a walk put runners on first and second as Bahl stepped into the batter’s box.

The OU pitcher made life easier on herself, as she belted an RBI-single straight up the middle of the infield to bring Brito home.

Coleman then sliced a looping hit just over the wall in the deepest part of the center field wall to put Oklahoma up 4-0. The three-run bomb was Coleman’s third home run off the weekend after hitting the ball out of the park in each of the Sooners’ contests on Friday.

𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 🔥@jaydac00 | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/ZbsfPVUv3J
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 4, 2023

Tiare Jennings walked and Haley Lee singled to keep the rally rolling, and true freshman Jocelyn Erickson drove Jennings home to cap off the inning with a dribbler to left field.

Bahl doubled her offensive output in the third inning.

Rylie Boone got aboard with a walk and then stole second after Kentucky catcher Kayla Kowalik dropped a pitch behind home plate.

Getting Boone into scoring position proved crucial as Bahl placed a hit into shallow left field, driving her left fielder all the way home to build the advantage to 6-0.

Brito flew out to deep right field in the fourth inning to add another run to the tally, and then OU nearly put the game in run-rule territory.

Boone singled, advancing catcher Kinzie Hansen to third base, and then OU coach Patty Gasso called for her dynamic left fielder to steal second base.

Kowalik’s throw down to the bag appeared to beat Boone, but the umpire standing over the base gave no call. With uncertainty in the air, Boone then shuffled down toward third, sending Hansen home where she slid in safely.

Instant replay had an angle of Boone getting tagged out at second base, however, overturning the call on the field and sending the game into the fifth inning with the score at 7-0.

Kentucky got one back in the fifth inning.

Rylea Smith led the inning off with a looping single that just pushed beyond the outstretched glove of Jennings at shortstop. Smith then stole second base, and she was able to come all the way home on Lauryn Borzilleri’s single into shallow right field.

Bahl had to navigate more pressure in the opt of the sixth inning.

The Wildcats put runners on the corners with no outs, but the OU right-hander responded.

She induced a soft line drive out of Kentucky’s Erin Coffel, which turned into a double play after second baseman Quincee Lilio’s throw to first base beat Vanessa Nesby back to the bag.

In the ensuing at-bat, Kennedy Sullivan popped out back to Hansen, helping Bahl get out of the inning clean.

Cydney Sanders had a chance to end the game in the bottom half of the sixth for the Sooners.

The sophomore had runners on second and third with two outs, needing to plate a pair of runs to end the game early. After she fell behind 0-2 early, Sanders battled back with a pair of foul balls.

But ultimately Sanders got caught looking at a pitch on the inside corner, striking out to send the game to the seventh.

Bahl didn’t mind the extra work, as she quickly closed out the win.

Pitching seven complete innings, Bahl allowed six hits, striking out four Wildcats while handing out no free bases with zero walks, adding to her 2-of-3 hitting performance.

Oklahoma will close out its portion of the OU Tournament immediately following the victory, as the Sooners will meet the Illinois-Chicago Flames for the second time in as many days.

The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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