Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma softball: No. 1 Sooners open Big 12 season entertaining Baylor

By Chip Rouse

Jun 9, 2021; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; OklahomaÕs Jocelyn Alo (center) celebrates with Kinzie Hansen (9) and Tiare Jennings (23) after hitting a home run against Florida State in the sixth inning of game two of the NCAA WomenÕs College World Series Championship Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2021; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; OklahomaÕs Jocelyn Alo (center) celebrates with Kinzie Hansen (9) and Tiare Jennings (23) after hitting a home run against Florida State in the sixth inning of game two of the NCAA WomenÕs College World Series Championship Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /
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The top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma softball juggernaut opens defense of its nine-time-standing Big 12 crown this weekend hosting Baylor at Marita Hynes Field.

The 26-0 Sooners lead the nation in multiple statistical categories and have been seriously challenged in just two games so far this season. The reigning national champions have dominated the nonconference portion of the schedule with 22 of the 26 games ending in fewer than seven innings, decided by the NCAA run rule, and 15 by shutout.

Baylor comes into the three-game series with a 17-10 record. The two teams have already played once this season, with OU prevailing 12-3. The three runs the Lady Bears scored, however, represent the third most given up against the Sooner pitching staff this season.

Oklahoma is 67-13 all-time against Baylor, with a 26-7 record when the games are played in Norman. No one on the current OU roster was around when the Sooners last lost to Baylor, five years ago. Baylor won the middle game in the season series in 2017, defeating the Sooners 4-3 in Norman.

Baylor head coach Glenn Moore recognizes his team’s weekend matchup with the Sooners will be a tremendous challenge. “Undefeated, No. 1 in the country, no weaknesses in their lineup that we’ve been able to find,” Moore said in a Baylor press release.

"“No one in the world is expecting us to have a chance…We have the opportunity to go up there and shock the world.”"

The Sooners, who have outscored their opponents 259-24 this season, have nearly doubled the season output by Baylor (140) in that category. Baylor’s top two hitters are McKenzie Wilson (.432) and Emily Hott (.377). Wilson ranks fourth in the Big 12 in hitting.

By comparison, six Oklahoma players rank in the top 10 in the conference in hitting, led by Jocelyn Alo and Taylon Snow, one and two in that category, hitting .540 and .500, respectively. The Sooners are hitting .390 as a team, which leads the Big 12 and all of NCAA Division I softball.

Oklahoma’s 70 home runs (2.7 per game) leads the country. Baylor has cleared the fences just eight times in 2022, by comparison.

The Lady Bears will also be facing the nation’s best pitching staff, based on ERA. The Sooners’ boast a sensational. 0.78 ERA and have thrown two perfect games and three no-hitters in OU’s 26 games to date.

Baylor will face OU starters Hope Trautwein (7-0), a transfer from North Texas), freshman sensation Jordy Bahl (11-0) and Nicole May (8-0) in the circle for the three-game weekend series.

Baylor’s prime starter is sophomore right-hander Dariana Orme, who transferred from Fresno State. She is 6-6 this season in 12 starts with a 3.38 ERA.

Game one on Friday night will be a 6:30 p.m. The Saturday contest will start at 2 p.m., and the series finale on Sunday is set for 12 noon.

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