Hot-Hitting Offense Earns Two Run-Rule Wins

Sunday, March 31

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

Utah

Hot-Hitting Offense Earns Two Run-Rule Wins

March 31, 2019 | Softball

By: Athletics Communications

^2/2Oklahoma

Utah

Box Score

Highlights

^2/2Oklahoma

Utah

Box Score

Highlights

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
OU	2	0	0	4	2	3	11	9	0
UTAH	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	7	2

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Saile (6-1)	3.2	6	2	2	1	5
L - Hilburn (4-6)	3.1	4	6	6	4	2

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Elam	2	1	2	4	0	1
UTAH - Fault	3	0	1	1	0	0

SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 2/2 Oklahoma softball team continued its run of powerful offensive performances on Sunday, earning a pair of run-rule wins at Utah, 11-2 in six innings and 13-3 in five.

The Sooners (32-2) have now scored at least eight runs in 12 of their last 13 games, reaching double-digit runs in nine of those contests. Additionally, OU has earned 17 run-rule wins in its 34 games this season.

With the wins over Utah (13-20), Oklahoma extended its winning streak to 22 consecutive games. The streak ranks as the sixth-longest in program history and is the longest active streak in Division I softball.

In game one, sophomore Lynnsie Elam went 2-for-2 with a career-high four RBIs as both of her hits were for extra bases. Caleigh Clifton also finished with two hits, driving in two runs and scoring

The Sooners scored in the first inning by stringing together three two-out hits. Clifton doubled down the left line and reached third on an error before Shay Knighten doubled to right center to send her home. Grace Green then drilled a hit to right that scored Knighten.

OU opened up a 6-0 advantage on the Utes with a four-run fourth inning. After a pair of walks to Nicole Mendes and Jocelyn Alo, Elam crushed the second home run of her career.

Grace Lyons drew a walk and advanced to third when Sydney Romero doubled. Falepolima Aviu brought Lyons home with a sacrifice fly.

The Utes cut into the Sooner lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.

Oklahoma responded with two more runs in the top of the fifth as Mendes and Elam hit back-to-back RBI triples. Mendes' hit was the ninth triple of her career while Elam's was her first career triple.

The Sooners moved into run-rule territory with three runs in the sixth. Aviu led off the frame with a single before Clifton blasted a ball over the left-center wall, good for her seventh homer of the year.

Two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for pinch hitter Sami Skelly, who hit a sacrifice fly to center to score pinch runner Audrie LaValley.

Juniors Shannon Saile and Giselle Juarez combined in the circle in game one. Saile earned the win to improve to 6-1 on the year, surrendering two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one over 3.2 frames.

Juarez closed the final 2.1 innings, scattering one hit and striking out two.

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
OU	2	0	1	10	0	13	16	0
UTAH	0	0	2	1	0	3	5	0

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Lopez (12-1)	3.1	4	3	3	1	3
L - Sandez (6-5)	4	3	3	3	1	3

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Clifton	3	2	3	4	0	2
UTAH - Noskin	3	1	2	1	0	0

The Sooner offense stayed hot in game two, crushing four home runs and scoring 13 runs on 16 hits. OU has now hit four home runs in four of its last five games.

Clifton finished 3-for-3 in game three, driving in three runs and scoring two thanks to a pair of home runs. Romero, Aviu, Green, Alo and Mendes all registered two hits in the contest.

Clifton put the Sooners on the board with her second homer of the day, a two-run shot to right center.

In the third, Green stepped to the plate with two runners in scoring position and capitalized, singling to score Aviu.

The Utes made it a one-run game with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Julia Noskin hit an RBI triple before a sac fly from Ally Dickman scored Noskin.

Oklahoma's offense responded with 10 runs in the fourth, including three home runs. It marked the second time this season OU has scored at least 10 runs in one inning, also doing so on February 16 against Hofstra (11 runs in the second).

The barrage was sparked by a homer from Jocelyn Alo to lead off the frame, marking her sixth home run of the season.

With two runners on base, Romero hit her first triple of the season to score them both. Aviu singled to right field to plate Romero.

Clifton then hit her second homer of the game and third of the day. It marked Clifton's second career game with multiple home runs, also doing so in May 2017.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Mendes. She put an exclamation point on the 10-run inning by crushing her first career grand slam over the center-field walls, setting a career high with four RBIs.

Utah's Alyssa Barrera led off the fourth with a triple and was driven in by a single from Makayla Hurst, but the Sooners would end the inning with a double play to maintain a 10-run advantage.

Mariah Lopez combined with Mendes in the circle. Lopez claimed the win, moving to 12-1 on the season. She allowed three runs on four hits while striking out three.

Mendes tossed 1.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit while fanning a pair.

Oklahoma returns to Marita Hynes Field next weekend to take on Baylor in a three-game conference series. Tickets are sold out.