Homers Lift OU to Pair of Wins

Thursday, February 14

Clearwater, Fla.

3:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

Kentucky

February 14, 2019 | Softball

By: Athletics Communications

^18/21Kentucky

^3/3Oklahoma

Box Score

Highlights

Photos

^3/3Oklahoma

^RV/24Notre Dame

Box Score

Highlights

Photos

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
UK	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	1
OU	0	0	3	1	0	5	9	7	2

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Lopez (3-0)	5.1	2	1	1	2	4
L - Baalman (1-2)	5.0	4	4	4	3	2

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
UK - Johnson	3	1	1	1	0	1
OU - Romero	4	2	2	4	0	1

CLEARWATER, Fla. –Led by four home runs on the day, the No. 3/3 Oklahoma softball team earned a pair of victories on its first day at the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

Oklahoma (7-0) run ruled No. 18/21 Kentucky 9-1 in six innings before taking down RV/No. 24 Notre Dame 6-2 in the nightcap.

The Sooners opened the day with their first ranked win of the season and fourth consecutive run-rule victory.

The offensive effort was led by seniors Caleigh Clifton and Sydney Romero, who both registered a pair of extra-base hits. Clifton reached base in every plate appearance, drilling a homer and a triple and drawing two walks. She finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Romero hit a home run and a double to finish 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs.

Kentucky (2-4) opened the game with a lead-off home run to take an early one-run lead.

The Sooners responded with a pair of homers of their own. In the bottom of the third, Romero crushed a three-run blast to left for her first homer of the season.

Clifton hit a solo shot over the left-field wall with two outs in the fourth.

Oklahoma earned the run-rule win in walk-off fashion in the sixth. Clifton drew a bases-loaded walk to score Nicole Mendes before Eliyah Flores and Grace Lyons both scored on wild pitches.

Romero doubled down the left-field line to plate Clifton. Falepolima Aviu then singled up the middle to bring Romero home and end the game.

Mariah Lopez and Shannon Saile combined in the circle in game one. Lopez earned the win to move to 3-0 on the season, allowing one run on two hits over 5.1 innings with four strikeouts. Saile closed the final 0.2 frames, needing just seven pitches to retire the final two batters.

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
OU	1	0	1	1	3	0	0	6	8	0
ND	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	3	1

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Juarez (3-0)	5.0	3	2	2	1	7
L - Holloway (1-2)	3.1	5	3	2	3	2

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Rogers	2	1	1	2	0	1
ND - Brooks	2	1	1	2	1	1

In the nightcap against Notre Dame (2-3), Shay Knighten was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Raegan Rogers drove in a pair of runs.

The Sooners struck first as Aviu doubled to left center to drive in Jocelyn Alo. Aviu later scored on an error to extend the lead.

Lyons hit her second career home run in the top of the fourth, a solo shot to left field.

The Fighting Irish came within one after a two-run homer to center in the bottom of the frame.

OU responded with three runs in the fifth to rebuild a commanding lead. Knighten doubled to right center to drive in Grace Green from first base.

Rogers then crushed a two-run homer to left field. Entering the 2019 season with one career home run, Rogers already has three through seven games this season.

In the circle, Giselle Juarez moved to 3-0 on the year, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out seven over 5.0 innings. Saile closed for the second time Thursday, finishing out the seventh by striking out the side.

The Sooners continue the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitational on Friday as they take on Florida Atlantic (9 a.m. CT) and No. 1/2 Florida State (12 p.m. CT).