Top-ranked Oklahoma softball made quick and efficient work in its home opener on Monday, defeating Minnesota 9-1 in a run-rule shortened contest.
Jordy Bahl and Nicole May combined to shut down the Minnesota hitters on a chilly late winter evening at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, yielding just four hits over five innings. Bahl started for the Sooners and worked the first three innings. May entered in relief in the fourth inning and finished off the final two, facing just seven hitters.
Bahl, a freshman and the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class, picked up her seventh win of the season without a loss.
Six Sooners accounted for Oklahoma’s eight hits, with Tiare Jennings, Jana Johns and Taylon Snow collecting two each.
OU super senior Jocelyn Alo, still seeking her NCAA record-breaking 96th home run of her career, was walked three times (once intentionally) and scored twice.
Oklahoma jumped out in front 1-0 in the first inning and scored three more times in both the second and third innings and pushed across a couple more in the fourth to complete the scoring.
Minnesota briefly tied the game, scoring its only run in the second inning.
The Sooners improved to 16-0 on the season. They have outscored their opponents 146-17 and the collective ERA of the OU pitching staff is an incredible 0.68. Moreover, 13 of the 16 wins have been by run rule.
Oklahoma leaves for warmer climes this weekend, flying to Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu. The Sooners will play single games with Baylor and California and two against host Hawaii.