OU Softball: Oklahoma Overpowers Tennessee, Blasts Way Into WCWS Semifinals
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s power has arrived at the Women’s College World Series.
After manufacturing a pair of runs to out-duel Stanford on Thursday, the top-ranked Sooners blasted past 4-seeded Tennessee on Saturday.
Tiare Jennings and Kinzie Hansen both blasted homers as OU poured it on, run-ruling the Volunteers 9-0 at Hall of Fame Stadium.
Hansen’s homer contributed to the Sooners’ six-run third inning, which busted open the contest and helped Oklahoma extend its wining streak to 50 games.
The win also advanced OU (58-1 overall) into Monday’s semifinal, while Tennessee (50-9) will meet Oklahoma State to stave off elimination on Sunday.
“Extremely proud of this team and the way they played pretty flawless,” OU coach Patty Gasso said after the game. “Attacking offensively, pitching staff, all of them, on point.”
In the circle, Gasso stuck with star sophomore Jordy Bahl despite the right-hander pitching all seven innings on Thursday.
“It's all about matchups for us,” Gasso said about starting Bahl. “… It was really hoping to get a lead to allow us to do the things that we did. It worked out well.”
Tennessee star Kiki Milloy started the game off with a stand-up double, roping the ball up the line into the left field corner.
The double was all the Tennessee fans would have to cheer about for the next 90 minutes.
Bahl dealt a pair of strikeouts to help get out of the inning, starting off a run where she retired 10 straight Volunteer batters.
Gasso’s counterpart, Karen Weekly, had a surprise for the Sooners in the circle.
Tennessee opted for freshman Karlyn Pickens instead of ace Ashley Rogers, hoping to keep the Sooners guessing.
“I felt like Karlyn presented a pretty good option to start with,” Weekly said. “I didn't plan on anyone going the full game or letting them see anybody too many times. I thought that was something else important in terms of just trying to keep them off balance.
“We planned to throw different people at 'em. The people we put in there I thought had the pitches in their arsenal that would be most successful.”
The game plan was sound in principle, but there was just one issue for the Volunteers — nobody instructed the Sooners to cooperate.
Instead, Oklahoma’s lineup feasted, smacking seven hits in just four innings at the plate.
OU loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but Hansen grounded out to keep the game scoreless.
Pickens was not as fortunate in the second inning.
Shortstop Grace Lyons drew a leadoff walk and Jayda Coleman singled to put a pair of runners on for Jennings.
The Sooner second baseman took a strike before dialing in, belting a no-doubter into center field to put Oklahoma on top. Her three-run shot was home run No. 17 on the year, which is tied with Alyssa Brito to pace the team.
Jennings said the lineup didn’t let coming up empty in the first inning get to their heads, instead making the adjustments necessary to find success.
“I know my first at-bat got a little jammed,” Jennings said. “I wanted to make a good adjustment. Two outs, two on, just tried to hit the ball hard, keep passing the bat.
“Got a good pitch, drove it, it ended up working out.”
Tennessee then brought in another right-handed freshman, Charli Orsini, but the result was the same.
Cydney Sanders’ leadoff single just provided more ammunition to Hansen, who smoked a line drive over the fence in left-center field to extend the lead to 5-0.
Hansen echoed Jennings’ sentiment, managing to stay calm instead of letting her first inning at-bat discourage the OU catcher.
“One thing that is special about our team is we are not result oriented,” she said. "Bat to bat, pitch to pitch, we're quick to make adjustments.
“My first at-bat was not what I wanted, especially early in the game with the bases juiced. I knew going into my second at-bat what their game plan would be against me. I think that really paid off going into it.”
From there, Oklahoma capitalized on Volunteer mistakes.
Lyons walked and Alynah Torres singled, setting the table for a Rylie Boone two-RBI triple that was aided by Tennessee left fielder Rylie West misplaying the ball.
Boone and Coleman pushed the game toward the run-rule, as both Sooners scored on wild pitches to cap off the six-run inning and put OU ahead 9-0 after three.
With the game in hand, Gasso withdrew Bahl in the fourth inning, handing Alex Storako her WCWS debut.
Bahl allowed just the one hit and a walk in 3 2/3 innings, firing three strikeouts in the process.
Storako strolled across the finish line, giving up just one walk and no hits in the final two thirds of an inning. Freshman Kierston Deal and junior Nicole May closed it out for OU in the circle.
The Sooners will have Sunday off while the loser’s bracket works itself out.
When OU’s opponent is determined, Oklahoma will have to lose back-to-back games to be denied its fourth-straight trip to the WCWS Championship Series.
“Everything was exactly the way we hoped it would be,” Gasso said. “Very proud of this team.
“Really stepping forward, getting the day off, getting to recover is really important.”
Regardless of the opponent, Gasso’s Sooners will be well-rested when they return to action at 11 a.m. on Monday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
- Want to join the discussion? Click here to become a member of the AllSooners message board community today!
- Sign up for your premium membership to AllSooners.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network!
- Follow AllSooners on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest OU news!
- Want even more Sooners news? Check out the SI.com OU team page here!
- Listen and subscribe to the AllSooners Podcast!
- Watch more Sooners videos and subscribe on YouTube!