Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma softball: Sooners register 15th shutout of season with win over South Dakota State

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Alynah Torres (40) celebrates as she runs home after hitting a grand slam on the first inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Monday, March 13, 2023. Oklahoma won 8-0 in five innings.Ou Sotfball
Oklahoma's Alynah Torres (40) celebrates as she runs home after hitting a grand slam on the first inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Monday, March 13, 2023. Oklahoma won 8-0 in five innings.Ou Sotfball /
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The top-ranked Oklahoma softball team tuned up for a huge game on Tuesday with No. 5 Florida State with an 8-0 win at home over South Dakota State.

The Sooners improved to 21-1 on the season and recorded their 15th shutout of the season and 13th win decided by run rule.

Oklahoma exploded for four runs in the first inning on a grand slam home run by right fielder Alynah Torres. It was the senior’s first home run as a Sooner after transferring from Arizona State and the 38th in her college career and OU’s third grand slam of the season.

Junior right-hander Nicole May and sophomore Jody Bahl combined on a three-hit shutout. May started and worked the first four innings, earning her seventh win of the season without a loss. Bahl closed out the five-inning win working the final inning.

The Sooners added a pair of runs in the second and solo runs in the fourth and fifth to finish out the scoring. Offensively, this was a rather uneventful performance on the part of the two-time defending national champions. OU managed just five hits, all singles aside from Torres’ long ball. Six walks issued by South Dakota pitchers aided the Oklahoma attack.

Patty Gasso’s crew now sets its sights on the showdown with Florida State. The Seminoles come in with a 20-3 season record and are the fifth ranked team Oklahoma has faced in its first 22 games and second top-five team. The Sooners defeated No. 1 UCLA 14-0 in late February.

Tuesday’s game with Florida State will be the first between the two teams since they met in the championship series in the 2021 Women’s College World Series. OU defeated the Seminoles two games to one to win the first if its back-to-back national titles the past two seasons. Oklahoma and Florida State have won the last three national championships in softball.

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