Top-ranked Oklahoma softball sweeps Baylor, stays unbeaten in Big 12 play
By Chip Rouse
No. 1-ranked Oklahoma softball swept a doubleheader over Baylor at a sold-out Love's Field on Saturday to finish off a series sweep of the 19th-ranked Lady Bears and remain unbeaten in Big 12 play.
The Sooners (31-1, 9-0) won 8-1 on Friday behind the strong pitching performance of starter Kelly Maxwell and took both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, 12-3 in the opener and 7-4 in the nightcap.
True freshman Ella Parker capped off a seven-run fifth inning in Game 1 on Saturday with a walk-off grand slam home run that game Oklahoma its 18th run-rule victory in 32 games this season. Four Sooners went yard in the first game, including Alyssa Brito, who homered in both games on Saturday, who went four-for-six at the plate and collected five RBI in the two games.
Nicole May pitched a complete game for the Sooners in Game 1, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out seven in 5.0 innings. May earned her team-high 10th win of the season without a loss.
Tiare Jennings and Alynah Torres joined Brito with round-trippers in Game 2 on Saturday, three of seven home runs by the Sooners on Saturday (Jayda Coleman and Riley Ludlum, along with Brito and Parker, hit long balls in the opening game). Sophomore left-hander Kierston Deal started the second game and earned the win, going 4.0 innings and giving up one run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts and four walks.
Jennings batted 6 for 10 in the series with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. Her two doubles were her 59th and 60th of her career, a new Oklahoma softball record.
Oklahoma is 15-1 at Love's Field since the opening of the Sooners' all-new ballpark on March 1.
The Sooners will play a midweek game at Wichita State on Tuesday, the first of seven consecutive road games. OU has road series at Kansas and a Red River showdown at No. 2 Texas the next two weekends.