Oklahoma softball hammers Kansas early and often in 17-0 run-rule shutout

Any visions of a Kansas upset of top-ranked Oklahoma softball evaporated early on Friday at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence as the Sooners scored 10 runs in the opening two innings on the way to a 17-0 blowout over the Jayhawks.

Senior center-fielder Jayda Coleman set the tone early for OU, sending the fourth pitch of the ball game over the left- field fence, triggering a three-run first inning.

The onslaught continued in the second inning with the Sooners sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring seven times on just four hits. All of the Oklahoma hits in the second were singles, but three walks and an error also contributed to the extended inning.

Coleman launched her second home run of the game in the fourth inning, and Tiare Jennings and Alyssa Brito also blasted round-trippers as OU put runs on the scoreboard in every inning of the five-inning run-rule win.

Not to be overlooked in the Sooners' offensive explosions was another brilliant pitching performance in the circle by veteran Nicole May. The OU senior allowed no runs and just one hit over 3.1 innings. SJ Geurin and Paytn Monticelli finished out the game and gave up just one more hit over the final 1.2 innings while striking out four. May earned her 11th win of the season without a loss.

Oklahoma improved to 33-1 on the season and 11-0 in the Big 12. The Sooners have won 15 consecutive games since losing 7-5 in eight innings to Louisiana on March 12. The win on Friday clinches the series and extends the Sooners' winning streak to 57 consecutive Big 12 series.

In 34 OU games in the 2024 season, 21 have been by run-rule (a lead of eight or more runs after five innings) and 16 by shutout.