OU Completes Sweep at HOF Classic

Sunday, March 14

Oklahoma City, Okla.

12 PM

University of Oklahoma

21-0

Liberty

17-8

Liberty

Oklahoma

March 14, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score: OU 16, Liberty 0 Box Score: OU 5, Liberty 4 Highlights: OU 16, LU 0 Highlights: OU 5, LU 4 #LaunchPad Photo Gallery

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The No. 1 Oklahoma softball team (22-0) swept the Liberty Flames in a doubleheader Sunday to finish the Hall of Fame Classic at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

After a competitive 5-4 victory in Sunday's game one, Oklahoma turned around and beat the Flames 16-0 in the second game of the doubleheader in run-rule fashion.

Oklahoma's bats were yet again the story on the day with OU hitting a combined seven homers, three courtesy of sophomore Kinzie Hansen.

In game one, Liberty struck first on a solo shot from Amber Bishop in the top of the first before OU responded in the second inning with a two-run single off the bat of Jana Johns. Moving to the third, Oklahoma made some separation with solo home runs from senior Jocelyn Alo and Hansen to make it 4-1, Sooners.

The Flames didn't fold and plated three runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning to even the score.

The difference maker in the game was a wild pitch from Liberty that brought in freshman Jayda Coleman in the bottom of the sixth to bring the final to 5-4, Oklahoma.

Coleman finished game one a perfect 3-for-3 in the box with two runs scored and a stolen base. Johns paced the Sooners in runs batted in with a pair, finishing 1-for-1 to go with two HBP, while Alo and Hansen each blasted home runs.

Freshman Nicole May picked up her team-leading seventh win in the circle, the first of two wins on the day for the Pleasanton, Calif., native.

Following a five-inning performance from redshirt senior Giselle Juarez that saw her throw three strikeouts and allow four runs and two walks, May relieved the senior for the final two innings. May finished with three K's and allowed just one hit on zero runs or walks in seven batters faced.

In the second contest of the doubleheader, Oklahoma came out firing and didn't stop until the run-rule victory was secured.

The bottom of the first saw OU plate two runs off a fielder's choice RBI from senior Taylon Snow before an error by the Flames centerfielder allowed Hansen to get home.

The second inning, Oklahoma hit four home runs including three consecutive off the bats of Alo, junior Grace Lyons and Hansen. It marked the second time this season that the trio of Alo, Lyons and Hansen has hit three straight blasts in a game, joining their season-opening performance at UTEP.

Following an RBI double from Johns and RBI triple from redshirt senior Nicole Mendes, freshman Tiare Jennings launched her 14th home run of her first-year campaign to finish the OU scoring in the inning. Oklahoma brought in 10 runs on eight hits in the frame.

The Sooners went back to work in the third inning with Hansen ripping her second home run of the game and third of the day on a two-run shot to left field. Freshman Zaida Puni got in on the action as a pinch hitter, lacing an RBI double to right center to plate another OU run. Still in the bottom of the third, sophomore Mackenzie Donihoo brought in a run on a single to right field to bring the final tally to 16-0, OU.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth and Oklahoma strung together three outs in the top of the fifth for their 16th mercy-rule win of the season.

Hansen paced OU at the plate, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two home runs. Lyons led OU with three hits in a 3-for-4, one RBI performance to go with one homer, while Alo went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one home run. 10 Sooners registered a hit in the game and nine batted in at least one run.

May collected her second win of the day and eighth of the season in game two, striking out three and allowing just one hit, no runs and one walk in nine batters faced and 2.1 innings of work. Sophomore Olivia Rains (1.2 IP) and redshirt senior Shannon Saile (1.0 IP) relieved May, each tossing a strikeout and allowing no runs on no hits. Rains walked a pair.

Oklahoma's home run counter is up to 77 on the season while the Sooners are outscoring opponents 267-25. As a team, OU is batting .470 with a .926 slugging percentage and .538 on-base clip. The pitching staff holds a combined ERA of 1.30 and has tossed 13 shutouts.

Alo blasted two more home runs on the day to bring her season total to 19 and career total to 73. The senior's hit streak is currently at a program-best 36 games.

Up next, OU will break from NCAA competition for an exhibition series with the Mexican National Team, March 19-21 in Norman.

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