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OU Softball: Oklahoma Sweeps No. 7 Oklahoma State, Win Streak Climbs to 41

The Sooners completed regular season Big 12 play a perfect 18-0 with a sweep over Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon.
Ryan Chapman|
OU Softball: Oklahoma Sweeps No. 7 Oklahoma State, Win Streak Climbs to 41
OU Softball: Oklahoma Sweeps No. 7 Oklahoma State, Win Streak Climbs to 41

STILLWATER — Grace Lyons broke through a defensive struggle in the third inning to deliver Oklahoma its Bedlam sweep.

The senior shortstop came up huge with a two-out, two-run double to break a scoreless  deadlock and the top-ranked Sooners in front.

OU pitcher Alex Storako took the lead and ran, shutting down No. 7 Oklahoma State 5-1 to clinch the sweep at Cowgirl Stadium on Sunday.

The victory extended Oklahoma’s winning streak to 41 games, which tied the program record set back in 2019.

It’s also the second-longest streak in Division I softball history, trailing the 1996-97 Arizona Wildcats’ 47-game run.

OU finished the regular season with a 49-1 record, including posting a perfect 18-0 Big 12 record for the first time since 2019.

"It’s incredibly hard to go through the Big 12 undefeated," OU coach Patty Gasso said. "And it’s their goal but they don’t just talk about it a lot. They just know what it takes day to day, the grind. A lot that goes with it. 

"And not many teams do it. So it’s a big milestone for them. They’ll be in the record books. That means a lot to them."

Kenny Gajewski’s Cowgirls dropped to 41-13 after losing all three games to the Sooners. 

Early on, both starting pitchers got plenty of help as each team staged their own defensive clinic.

Oklahoma catcher Haley Lee, filling in for Kinzie Hansen behind the plate for the second straight day, showed off her arm to throw down to second base and beat a stealing Kiley Naomi to end the first inning.

Cowgirls center fielder responded in the second inning, robbing Lee of a solo bomb in the deepest part of Cowgirl Stadium.

In the bottom of the second, Jayda Coleman then turned an unorthodox double play.

With runners on first and second, Tallen Edwards popped the ball up to shallow center field, and Coleman appeared to be camped out in plenty of time to make the catch.

But as the ball hit her glove, Coleman dropped the ball. Cool under the pressure of the miscue, Coleman fired to second to get the force out, and then Lyons turned the double play, throwing to third, where Alynah Torres tagged out Katelynn Carwile.

"OSU made some really good plays early in the game that took our momentum away," Gasso said. "They’re a good team, that’s why they’re ranked where they are. They fight. 

"So you’ve got to stay pace with them and we kind of found some good plays ourselves."

In the third inning, Lyons finally found a gap.

OU’s senior captain capitalized on a Coleman single and Cydney Sanders walk, clearing the bases with a two-out double that bounced into right field.

"What a great leader," Gasso said of Lyons. "But, just did whatever she had to do to help the team. Really loved her intent today and just her leadership."

The Sooners had a chance to bust open the game in the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out, but were unable to convert.

But OU flipped the script in the fifth inning.

Cydney Sanders started the frame off by reaching base on a throwing error, and that was followed up by a bunt single from Lyons and a Lee walk.

Gajewski rolled with starter Lexi Kilfoyl in the circle, and she paid off his faith, striking out Jocelyn Erickson and inducing a ground ball from Sophia Nugent to log two quick outs, but then Torres struck.

Filling in for starting third baseman Alyssa Brito, Torres dropped a looper into shallow left field. The two-RBI double extended OU’s lead to 4-0.

Torres’ hit was an exclamation point on a really nice weekend at the plate, where she finished 4-for-8 with four RBIs across all three games.

"She’s clutch," Gasso said. "I had to bring her in. Alyssa Brito wasn’t feeling good. 

"Alynah kind of plays very sparingly at third, doesn’t really practice there. Did a great job handling that."

Lyons added another run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 5-0, not that Storako needed it.

OU’s senior right-hander allowed one run on six hits, firing four strikeouts and a walk in another complete game.

Her third strikeout of the game, which closed the fourth inning, was career strikeout No. 1,000 for Storako.

"Really good pitching by Alex Storako. She threw well today," Gasso said. "... Alex came in strong and lasted. It’s hard to last against a team like this. I’m really proud of her."

Oklahoma State avoided the shutout with a Micaela Wark RBI double in the sixth inning. 

Oklahoma’s regular season is now in the books, and the Sooners turn their attention to next weekend’s Big 12 Tournament.

As the 1-seed, OU won’t have to take the field on Thursday. The Sooners wait for the winner of Baylor and Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal on Friday at 1 p.m. at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. 

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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