Sooners Top ASU, Take Two in Tempe

Friday, February 26

Tempe, Ariz.

12 PM

University of Oklahoma

8-0

New Mexico

1-6

Oklahoma

New Mexico

February 26, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score: OU 5, ASU 3 Box Score: OU 8, UNM 0 Highlights: OU at ASU Highlights: OU vs. UNM

By: Patrick Dunn

TEMPE, Ariz. — The University of Oklahoma softball team began their weekend in Arizona with a combined no hitter versus New Mexico and a top-15 victory over No. 11/13 Arizona State on their home field. The Sooners opened the day with an 8-0 run-rule victory over UNM in six innings before besting ASU, 5-3, in the night cap.

OU redshirt senior Giselle Juarez, making her return to Tempe where she spent two seasons as a Sun Devil, made her presence felt in the top-15 matchup with ASU. Juarez struck out 10 versus the Sun Devils, going six innings and allowing just three runs to the high-powered ASU offense.

After the game began as a pitcher's duel, ASU opened the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning to go up 1-0. The Sooners responded with five unanswered runs starting with freshman Tiare Jennings seventh home run of the season on a two-run blast in the fourth.

Redshirt senior Nicole Mendes went yard on a solo home run in the top of the seventh prior to senior Jocelyn Alo bringing in two more runs on a deep shot to left center to put OU on top 5-1, her seventh homer of the season and 61st of her career.

The Sun Devils plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to bring the final score to 5-3. Redshirt senior Shannon Saile shut down any chance of a walk off victory for ASU, entering in the seventh with a runner on and striking out a pair and forcing a pop-up to secure the save and OU win.

Juarez collected her fourth win of the season in the circle with her dominant performance, striking out 10, allowing three runs on seven hits and just one walk.

Jennings lead OU in the box on a hard-fought night for the hitters, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a home run.

In OU's first contest of the day, the pitching staff combined for the first Sooner no-hitter of the season. Saile went three innings and collected six strikeouts while Juarez struck out one in one inning of work and sophomore Olivia Rains pitched two shutout innings and struck out three.

Oklahoma's bats woke up in the second inning with an RBI double from Mendes that brought in sophomore Raylee Pogue. Following Mendes' double, senior Taylon Snow knocked an RBI single to plate OU's second run of the inning.

The Sooners put three more across in the fourth and sixth innings to complete the run-rule victory. Senior transfer Jana Johns hit her third home run as a Sooner in the top of the fourth on a solo shot to center before freshman Jayda Coleman blasted her second career round-tripper on a deep two-run home run to right.

Snow registered her second hit and RBI of the game on a single that scored Johns in the sixth prior to Jennings lacing an RBI double to the wall that brought in Snow. Alo brought in the Sooners' eighth and final run of the game on a single up the middle to plate Coleman.

Snow and Coleman paced OU in game one, with Snow going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs while Coleman finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run. Johns impressed in her first game since opening weekend, finishing the game 2-for-3 with a solo home run.

The Sooners return to the diamond Saturday and Sunday for three more games in the Phoenix area. OU meets New Mexico for the second time in as many days at noon CT Saturday before facing host Grand Canyon University at 4:30 p.m. The team will cap the trip with a 10 a.m. game against Portland State Sunday morning.

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