Oklahoma softball: Mariah Lopez records OU’s 2nd no-hitter in less than a week

CHIBA, JAPAN - AUGUST 10: Monica Cecilia Abbott #14 of United States pitches against Australia during their Playoff Round at ZOZO Marine Stadium on day nine of the WBSC Women's Softball World Championship on August 10, 2018 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
CHIBA, JAPAN - AUGUST 10: Monica Cecilia Abbott #14 of United States pitches against Australia during their Playoff Round at ZOZO Marine Stadium on day nine of the WBSC Women's Softball World Championship on August 10, 2018 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)

Oklahoma softball pitcher Mariah Lopez pitched her second no-hitter of the season and the third in her career as Oklahoma defeated North Texas 8-0 in a five-inning, run-rule-shortened game on Wednesday.

Lopez faced 15 batters, striking out six and walking one and was credited with her 11th win of the season with just one loss. She also tossed a complete-game no-hitter against Florida Atlantic earlier this season, striking out 13 in that decision. Last season, she combined with Paige Lowary on a no-hitter against Baylor.

The Sooner no-hitter was the 54th in program history. This is the second Oklahoma no-hitter in less than a week. Over past weekend, Lopez’s teammate, Giselle Juarez, pitched a no-no against Loyola Marymount.

Three Sooners collected two hits each. Freshman first baseman Grace Green went two-for-three, driving in two runs and scoring one, and senior right fielder Raegan Rogers had two hits, including a solo home run, and scored two runs. Second baseman Caleigh Clifton and designated player Jocelyn Alo also added a couple of hits.

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Oklahoma has now scored at least eight runs in seven consecutive games, and it was the Sooners’ 13th run-rule win of the season. The win was OU’s 42nd consecutive home victory at Marita Hynes Field.

The Sooners opened up with three runs in the first inning and added three more in the fourth and two in the fifth to finish out the scoring.

Ranked second in the country behind UCLA, Oklahoma improved its season record to 26-2. OU’s two losses are to No. 1 UCLA, 7-1 on Feb. 22 in the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, California, and then No. 1 Florida State, which defeated the Sooners 7-4 on Feb. 15 as part of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Elite Invitational.

Oklahoma opens up Big 12 softball play this weekend with a three game series at No. 12 Texas Tech.