OU Softball: Oklahoma Sweeps Kansas, Clinches Big 12 Title on Senior Day

NORMAN — Oklahoma celebrated Senior Day in style on Sunday.

The top-ranked Sooners trounced Kansas, completing a series sweep of the Jayhawks and clinching the outright Big 12 regular season title with an 8-2 win at Marita Hynes Field.

Rolling through the Big 12 has become the expectation for Patty Gasso’s Sooners, as this year’s title marked the 11th straight regular season crown for OU (45-1).

"It was exciting," Gasso said after the game. "The whole day you could feel energy and we knew what was at stake and the team played hard. Not just for the title but more for their seniors.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

"... They want to play well. There’s just so many things going on around us so there’s a lot of distractions so they did a really good job of staying focused."

All four of Oklahoma’s seniors, Grace Lyons, Grace Green, Alex Storako and Haley Lee, got the start, but Kansas (22-24) didn’t stick to the program — at least in the first inning.

Jayhawk left fielder Presley Limbaugh reached base after Storako misfired over to first base, giving Kansas a one-out baserunner.

A hit batter combined with a single through the left side to bring Limbaugh home, ending OU’s eight-game shutout streak in Big 12 play.

After giving up the run, Storako settled in, and she was given plenty of help from her offense.

The Sooners quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, and Lee stepped in with two outs and a chance to erase the early deficit.

She stayed disciplined as Kansas pitcher Kasey Hamilton tried to change speeds and catch Lee way out in front on an off-speed pitch.

Lee didn’t bite, however, instead drawing a walk to tie the game at 1-1.

Alyssa Brito then dribbled a slow roller to the left side, sliding in head first to first base to reach safely and put Oklahoma in front 2-1.

Green grounded out to end the inning, but the Sooners didn’t look back.

A single and walk from Rylie Boone and Jayda Coleman in the second inning brought Tiare Jennings up to bat.

The Sooner second baseman wasted no time, turning on the first pitch she saw to hit a laser into the left field bleachers.

Launchin' lasers ☄️ @_tiarejennings

B2 | OU 5, KU 1 | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/0b2bZi9PZF
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 30, 2023

Oklahoma took a 5-1 lead on home run No. 12 for Jennings this season, which is one behind Coleman for the team lead.

Kansas got one back in the top of the third inning off an Olivia Bruno solo shot, but the Sooners immediately responded.

Green and Boone drew back-to-back two-out walks, and Coleman singled over the second baseman’s head to drive Green all the way home and push the OU advantage to 6-2.

Two batters later, Cydney Sanders wore a bases-loaded delivery off her left elbow pad, scoring Boone to make the score 7-2.

OU had a chance to push the game into run-rule territory in the fourth inning.

The Sooners loaded the bases, but Jordy Bahl popped up on the infield and Coleman struck out swinging.

Oklahoma also stranded a pair in the bottom of the fifth, which also could have ended the game.

Gasso took a moment in the sixth inning to honor her seniors.

She withdrew the four seniors one-by-one, allowing the fans at Marita Hynes Field to honor each one with a prolonged standing ovation.

Bahl replaced Storako in the circle in the top of the sixth, with Storako capping off her afternoon with six strikeouts and no walks while allowing four hits and the pair of runs.

Coleman then added another RBI to her haul in the sixth inning, doubling to switch spots with Bahl at second base.

𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐞 rocket to the wall scores another one 🌐

END 6 | OU 8, KU 2 | @jaydac00 pic.twitter.com/KZkgQyU8fQ
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 30, 2023

Jennings finished her day 4-for-5 at the plate, applying the pressure on the Jayhawks all day, not just with her home run swing.

In her brief cameo, Bahl struck out three of the seven batters she faced.

With Oklahoma’s regular season home slate now concluded, the Sooners have one last stop out of conference before next weekend’s Bedlam series.

OU will make up last week’s contest against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane that was canceled by weather. The game is set for 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Collins Family Softball Complex.

Bedlam looms, however, and next weekend's trip to Stillwater is something the Sooners are looking forward to.

"We always enjoy opportunities to get better and I think Oklahoma State is a team that does that for you," Gasso said. "We’re looking forward to the environment which I know is hostile.

"But it’s good for us to know what that feels like and we had a little bit of that feeling at LSU so I think that could help us prepare going into next week.

"It’s always a fun series. It’s always a challenge."

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.