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Oklahoma softball: Three takeaways from another Sooner shutdown

By Chip Rouse

Clemson softball catcher Abby Stuart catches a ball near head coach John Rittman hitting infield grounders, during the first practice on their new field in Clemson Monday, September 30, 2019.Clemson Softball Practices On New Field For First Time
Clemson softball catcher Abby Stuart catches a ball near head coach John Rittman hitting infield grounders, during the first practice on their new field in Clemson Monday, September 30, 2019.Clemson Softball Practices On New Field For First Time /
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It wasn’t much of a competitive weekend for No. 1 ranked Oklahoma softball, but it was better than not playing at all.

The Sooners improved to 30-0 with a Saturday doubleheader sweep of Mississippi State and host Louisiana Tech, both by shutout. Oklahoma defeated Mississippi State 9-0 in the front end of the twin bill and followed that with a 10-0 win over the Lady Techsters. Both games were shortened to five innings by run rule.

OU managed to arrange the trip to Ruston, Louisiana, after learning earlier in the week that the scheduled weekend series at Baylor was postponed because of COVID-19 issues within the Baylor program.

The Sooners scored a combined 19 runs on 17 hits in the doubleheader victory while OU pitchers held Mississippi State and Louisiana to one hit apiece and recorded a total of 15 strikeouts.

The two replacement games on Saturday will serve as a good tune-up for a big series next weekend, when Oklahoma entertains No. 8 Texas. The Longhorns are 31-3 and sit in second place in the Big 12 standings.

Three takeaways from Saturday’s Sooner softball action:

Sooners extend nation-best win streak

The top-ranked Sooners extended their nation-best winning streak to 37 consecutive games, dating back to last season. The Sooners are the only remaining undefeated team in the country at 30-0.

Oklahoma has played only 8 games that have gone full 7 innings

Both games this weekend ended in a Sooner shutout and were completed in less than the official seven innings because of the run rule. The OU pitching staff has posted 17 shutouts in 30 games, and only eight of the Sooners’ 30 games have gone the official seven-inning distance.

Three of country’s top four home-run hitters are Sooners

Oklahoma hitters are averaging a nation-best 3.25 home runs per game. The Sooners only hit two this weekend, one in each game. Freshman Tiare Jennings launched her 17th home run of the season, a three-run blast, in OU’s eight-run third inning against Mississippi State. Senior Jana Johns stroked a three-run long ball of her own in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

The Sooners have slugged a nation-best 93 home runs this season, a good 20-plus better than the next best team. Senior Jocelyn Alo leads the country with 22 fence-clearing blasts. Jennings’ 17 long balls rank third nationally and sophomore Kinzie Hansen is tied for fourth with 15.

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