OU Softball: Oklahoma Overcomes Slow Start to Blow Out Iowa State

Oklahoma overcame a bit of adversity early to keep its wining streak going on Saturday.

Playing the front end of a double-header against Iowa State, the top-ranked Sooners fell behind in the first inning.

But OU responded with six home runs, powering past the Cyclones 13-3 after five innings in Ames.

The Sooners moved to 29-1 on the year with the win, and Iowa State dropped to 11-16.

Shaky fielding allowed the Cyclones to jump out to an early lead.

With ISU leadoff hitter Carli Spelhaug already on second, Milaysia Ochoa doubled off the wall in center field.

OU’s Jayda Coleman didn’t appear to field the ball completely clean, but still turned and fired toward the infield in time to make a play at the plate. The ball tipped off shortstop Grace Lyons’ glove, however, allowing Spelhaug to score without much drama.

Two batters later, the capacity crowd at the Cyclone Sports Complex got on their feet again as Cydney Sanders was unable to field a dribbler to first, deflecting the ball into right field and bringing Ochoa home to put the Cyclones up 2-0 after one inning.

Whatever OU coach Patty Gasso said in the dugout following the first inning, the message was received.

Lyons walked and Alynah Torres reached base in the second inning with one out, and both runners moved up a base after a wild pitch to Alyssa Brito.

Staring down a 3-0 count, Brito opted against taking the fourth pitch to try and walk the bases loaded.

Instead, she pulled the trigger, crushing the ball to straightaway center field to put the Sooners up 3-2 with her eighth home run of the season.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝. 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬. courtesy @alyss_33 👏

T2 | OU 3, ISU 2 | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/36rQPFeqAb
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 25, 2023

Oklahoma added to the lead in the third inning, as a solo shot from Haley Lee and a two-run home run from Lyons extended the lead to 6-2.

But the Sooners weren’t done.

A trio of walks loaded the bases for Tiare Jennings, who lined a ball beyond the fence in right-center field, putting OU up 10-2 on the grand slam.

Having a 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 ol' time 💢@_tiarejennings | MID 4 | OU 10, ISU 2 pic.twitter.com/Dkq8fDMWlN
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 25, 2023

The Cyclones got one back in the bottom of the fourth when senior Lea Nelson hit the first home run of her career off of Nicole May.

Oklahoma immediately responded.

Freshman Jocelyn Erickson hammered a no-doubter in the top of the fifth inning, bringing Quincee Lilio home to push the advantage back to 12-3.

Sophia Nugent then stepped in right after Erickson, bouncing a home run off the scoreboard to round out the day.

Back-to-back 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 🚀@joceyerickson @SophiaN2021

T5 | OU 13, ISU 3 | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/l29hokO9II
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 25, 2023

Gasso went to the bullpen, bringing in Alex Storako to close out the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.

May finished the day allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks, while also striking out four Cyclone batters.

Storako picked up right where she left off on Friday, quickly retiring all three Iowa State batters on just eight pitches in the fifth inning.

The Sooners will close out the series with Iowa State in Game 2 of the doubleheader later on Saturday afternoon.

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