The Oklahoma softball machine continued its monster-truck demolition of the competition on day two of the Miners Invitational in El Paso.
After scoring a combined 38 runs in shutout, run-rule wins over host UTEP and Abilene Christian on Thursday, the fourth-ranked Sooners followed that with 9-0 and 21-2 wins over the same two teams on Friday.
It wasn’t until the second inning of the second contest on Friday against UTEP that a runner crossed home plate against OU pitching. After outscoring its two opponents 38-0 on opening day on Thursday, the Sooners continued the onslaught with 11-0 and 21-2 victories on day two of the two-day, season-opening tournament.
Oklahoma’s offensive firepower was on full display again on Friday, with the Sooners adding to their Home Run Derby-like performance with eight more fence-clearing blasts, giving them 24 in four games.
Sooner ace Giselle “G” Jaurez collected her second win in as many days. In six innings of work in her two starts, she allowed no hits while striking out 11 and giving up just one walk. Freshman Nicole May also earned her second win of the season with a three-hit, three-strikeout performance in OU’s 21-2 win over UTEP.
Oklahoma came within one batter of recording a no-hitter against Abilene Christian in Friday’s first game. Abilene Christian catcher Avery Miloch stroked a single off Sooner reliever Alana Thiede with two outs in the last of the fifth, the only hit surrendered by the OU pitching trio of Jaurez, Macy McAdoo and Thiede.
Of the 24 round-trippers collected by the Oklahoma hitters in the four-game tournament in West Texas, six were hit by junior shortstop Grace Lyons and five by freshman infielder Tiare Jennings. sophomore first baseman/catcher Kinzie Hansen had four home runs.
The Sooners were highly efficient on offense, scoring 70 runs on 69 hits. Meanwhile the OU pitching staff allowed just 2 runs on a total of 10 hits over the four games.
Oklahoma will continue its Texas tour next weekend with single games against the University of Texas-San Antonio and Sam Houston State on Friday and a doubleheader with Houston on Saturday.