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Oklahoma softball: Sooners capitalize on OSU mistakes, win Bedlam opener

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings (23) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning of a Bedlam softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls (OSU) at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Thursday, May 5, 2022. Oklahoma won 7-1.Bedlam Softball
Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings (23) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning of a Bedlam softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls (OSU) at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Thursday, May 5, 2022. Oklahoma won 7-1.Bedlam Softball /
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The top-ranked Oklahoma softball Sooners are too good to give them extra outs, and that’s what Oklahoma State did in losing the opening game of the Bedlam series 7-1 to the Sooners in Norman.

The Sooners (46-1, 15-10 are now one game away from clinching their 10th straight Big 12 regular-season crown.

No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 7-ranked Oklahoma State came into the series tied for the Big 12 lead with identical 14-1 records.

OU scored seven runs on six hits, plating all seven runs after two were out. Sooner freshman sensation and a candidate for national Freshman of the Year Jordy Bahl, pitched a complete game for her 21st win of the season to go with one loss.

The game was scoreless after the first two innings. In the third inning, however, OU broke the scoreless tie when Joclyn Alo, the NCAA career home run leader, singled to left center scoring Jana Johns and putting Oklahoma up 1-0. One batter later, Tiare Jennings crushed a home run over the right center fence, her 20th round-tripper of the season, and just like that the Sooner lead was extended to 4-0.

Oklahoma added two more runs in the fourth inning and a single run in the fifth and had opportunities in both innings to score more, but Oklahoma State starting pitcher Kelly Maxwell was able to get out of trouble in both frames without further damage.

The lone Oklahoma State run scored in the fifth when Sydney Pennington sliced a double off the third base bag and down the left field line, scoring Chelsea Alexander from second base.

Bahl retired six of the seven Oklahoma State hitters she faced in the sixth and seventh innings to close out the game. Bahl allowed one run on four hits and struck out six Cowgirls without a walk.

The Sooners took advantage of two Oklahoma State errors and six walks issued by OSU starter Maxwell. All seven of the Oklahoma runs were made possible by these miscues.

The two teams will go at it again on Friday night at Marita Hynes Field in Norman. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 beginning at 6 p.m. CT

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