No. 6 OU Blasts Past Shockers

Wednesday, March 4

Norman

6:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

16-4

Wichita State

8-13

Wichita State

Oklahoma

Photo by: Ty Russell

March 04, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights OU 8, WSU 5 Box Score Weekend Tickets

By: Patrick Dunn

NORMAN – The No. 6/6 OU softball team (16-4) posted an 8-5 comeback win over Wichita State (8-13) on Wednesday night at Marita Hynes Field.

The Sooners knocked three home runs on the evening, resulting in six runs, after going down four runs in the first inning.

The Shockers struck early, plating four runs on four hits in the first frame of the game, including a three-run home run from Neleigh Herring.

Oklahoma responded with a combined six runs in the second and third innings.

Following singles by junior Lynnsie Elam and sophomore Kinsey Koeltzow and a walk by junior Eliyah Flores, freshman Mackenzie Donihoo lined a double to right center to plate two runs. It marked the second game of Donihoo's young career with two RBIs.

Sophomore Grace Lyons followed Donihoo by drilling a three-run homer to left center to put the Sooners on top 5-4. The blast was Lyons' fifth of the year (second three-run shot).

Moving to the third, Elam continued the hot start to her junior campaign with her team-leading eighth home run of the season on a solo shot to left field. Also in the inning, Koeltzow posted her second hit of the game, marking the first multiple-hit contest of her career.

The Shockers cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth on a solo home run to right field. Later in the inning, with two outs and a runner in scoring position, OU third baseman Flores made a diving stop and fired the ball to first baseman Kinzie Hansen who snagged it off the hop to register the final out and leave the runner stranded.

In the bottom of the sixth, Oklahoma junior Jocelyn Alo launched a two-run home run well beyond the left field wall for her seventh roundtripper of the season and the final run of the game. Alo led the Sooners at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Lyons, Hansen and Elam all chipped in with 2-for-4 performances, with Lyons posting three RBIs and Elam one. Hansen extended her hitting streak to a team-leading 13 games.

Shannon Saile picked up her sixth win of the season in the circle for the Sooners, replacing freshman starter Olivia Rains in the first inning following four WSU runs. Saile finished the game with five strikeouts to four walks, allowing one run on five hits.

Oklahoma turns around to host four teams this weekend. The Sooners face off against Mercer (2:30 p.m. CT) and Utah (5 p.m.) on Friday before matching up with Murray State (2:30 p.m.) and Missouri State (5 p.m.) on Saturday.

Tickets for this weekend's games are still available and can be purchased online at Soonersports.com/tickets or by phone at (800) 456-GoOU.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.