Oklahoma softball: Sooners take their power show to Lubbock, Texas
By Chip Rouse
Following a Wednesday night in-state matchup with Tulsa at Marita Hynes Field, the top-ranked Oklahoma softball team heads out on the road this weekend for what could and should be a record-setting series against Texas Tech.
An expected victory over Tulsa (12-22) on Wednesday will tie an OU program record for the most wins to start a season. The Sooners are 45-10 all-time against the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa and are 26-4 when playing Tulsa in Norman.
The Sooners are 32-0 to start the 2022 college softball season. With one more win they will tie the 33-0 start of last year’s team, which ended in the 34th game of 2021, when the Sooners lost 7-6 to No. 21 Georgia in the first game of a road doubleheader.
OU rebounded in a big way in the second game of last season’s twin-bill against the Lady Bulldogs out of the SEC, claiming a 12-3 run-rule win in five innings.
In reality, going into the midweek contest with Tulsa, the Sooners will go after their 35th consecutive victories dating back to the Women’s College World Series last season.
Oklahoma should come out on top on its home field against its in-state rival on Wednesday, but the challenge to the Sooners’ undefeated season will be much greater against conference opponent Texas Tech.
The Lady Sooners have dominated the all-time series with Texas Tech, winning 63 of 70 games, and OU is 25-1 in games played in Lubbock.
Oklahoma has won 27 consecutive games against the Red Raiders. In four games last season, the Sooners held Texas Tech scoreless in three on the games and outscored the Red Raiders by the combined score of 48-2.
Oklahoma leads the Big 12 and ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring (9.44 runs per game), batting average (.383), home runs (83), on-base percentage (.499), slugging percentage (.783), and staff ERA (0.67).
The Red Raiders are last in the Big 12 in hitting (.264 batting average with 28 home runs) and next to last in pitching (3.77 staff ERA). They are 2-4 in two Big 12 series. They were swept by Oklahoma State in three games and won two of three at home against Kansas last weekend.
Seven of the top-13 hitters in the Big 12 are Oklahoma Sooners. Super senior and NCAA career home-run leader Jocelyn Alo leads the conference and is No. 3 nationally with a .513 batting average and OU’s Taylon Snow is right behind Alo at .500.
The differential in scoring between OU and Texas Tech this season is 9.44 to 4.11 in favor of the Sooners.
Twenty-six of Oklahoma’s games this season have been decided by run rule and 17 by shutout.