Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma Softball: Sooners Retain Bedlam Cup Over Rival Cowboys

By Chip Rouse

Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cheerleader performs during a timeout from the game against the Texas Longhorns during Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cheerleader performs during a timeout from the game against the Texas Longhorns during Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Before Thursday, Oklahoma State was the closest challenger to five-time defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma softball.

What on Thursday was a two-game lead in the Big 12 standings is now five over their in-state rivals after OU swept the final series of 2017 regular season over Oklahoma State. The Sooners’ 6-2 win on Friday night in Norman clinched the series for the Sooners and allowed the Bedlam Cup to remain in Norman for the 15th time in the last 17 seasons.

Then on Saturday, back in Stillwater for the series finale, freshman Nicole Mendes hit a solo home run in the sixth inning for Oklahoma’s only run and combined with junior Paige Lowary on a no-hitter and a 1-0 victory, the Sooners’ 16th consecutive win over their in-state rivals. Seven of those 16 wins have been by shutout.

Mendes’ sixth-inning round-tripper was the only extra base hit in Saturday’s game. The hit extended her consecutive-game hit streak to 12 games, and she has now reached base in 26 consecutive contests, the longest by an OU player this season.

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The Sooners managed only five hits off of Oklahoma State pitcher Brandi Needham, who pitched a complete game in a losing cause.

It was only Mendes’ second career start for Oklahoma. She pitched the first two and a third innings, facing nine batters and allowing just one runner to reach first base, on a base of balls.

The no-hitter was the 49th in program history at OU and the second by a Sooner team against Oklahoma State. Keilani Ricketts was the last Sooner pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the Cowgirls, in 2013.

The three-game sweep over Oklahoma State gave the Sooners an overall record of  47-8 in 2017 and a final conference mark of 17-1, tying the best record by an OU baseball team in the Big 12 era, established just a year ago.

Two of the three wins in the series were in Stillwater, extending Oklahoma’s road winning streak to 26 games dating back to last season and 20 consecutive road victories in Big 12 games.

Next up in the Sooner softball season is the Big 12 Championship next week in Oklahoma City.

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