OU Softball: Oklahoma Reclaims No. 1 Ranking After Demolition of UCLA
Last weekend Oklahoma left no doubt.
After a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, CA, headlined by OU’s 14-0 thrashing of UCLA, the Sooners are back atop the rankings.
The Sooners took a one week dip to No. 2 following their 4-3 loss to Baylor on Feb. 19, falling behind the Bruins in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
Despite the beatdown, UCLA still received one first-place vote from a voter in the coaches poll. OU was unanimous in both the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 and the D1 Softball Top 25.
With a head-to-head matchup against UCLA on the horizon, Oklahoma had an opportunity to recapture the top spot, but they first had to dispatch of four other opponents.
But there were no signs of looking ahead from Patty Gasso’s team. OU run-ruled Cal State Fullerton and Texas A&M on Friday, then beat Utah 10-3 before dominating Loyola Marymount 10-1 in five innings.
The victories set up the marquee matchup with the Bruins and the Sooners rose to the challenge.
Right-handed pitcher Alex Storako breezed through the day, allowing only three hits and striking out five of the 18 batters she faced.
OU’s offense took over from there, pelting the entire UCLA pitching staff. The Sooners chased star pitcher Megan Faraimo out of the game in the second inning with four two-out home runs, and then Kinzie Hansen added another two blasts in the fourth and fifth innings.
When the dust settled, Oklahoma had its swagger back and the rankings reflected the showing, as the Sooners are once again the top-ranked team in both polls.
Now, OU will return home and take the field in Norman for the first time this year.
The Sooners host the OU Tournament this weekend at Marita Hynes field, where they’ll play four total games against the UIC Flames and the Kentucky Wildcats.
Oklahoma opens the weekend against UIC at 3 p.m. on Friday, and will take on the Wildcats at 5:30 p.m.
All four of the Sooners’ games this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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