OU Run-Rules Minnesota in Home Opener

Monday, March 7

Norman

4 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

16-0

Minnesota

11-8

Minnesota

Oklahoma

March 07, 2022 | Softball

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NORMAN — No. 1 Oklahoma (16-0) opened the home slate with a 9-1 victory in five innings over NR/RV Minnesota (11-8) on Monday.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 1,351 on a chilly evening at Marita Hynes Field, the Sooners strung together runs in each inning to beat the Gophers. Oklahoma pushed one across in the first inning before scoring three runs in both the second and third innings and putting the game in run-rule territory with a pair in the bottom of the fourth.

Four Sooners registered two runs batted in on the night in seniors Grace Lyons and Jana Johns, junior Rylie Boone and sophomore Tiare Jennings, while senior Taylon Snow brought in one.

Snow started the scoring in the first on an infield RBI single to bring in fellow senior Jocelyn Alo, who got aboard via walk. It was the first of Alo's three walks on the night (one intentional) as the slugger still searches for a pitch to hit for career home run No. 96 and sole possession of the NCAA all-time home run record.

The Gophers knotted the game up in the second with their only run of the game coming on an RBI single from Elle Jensen.

In the second, Boone ripped an RBI triple down the right line before a two-run double from Johns. Boone then drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to plate another OU run prior to Jennings' ripping a two-RBI single up the middle to score Jayda Coleman and Alyssa Brito.

Lyons put the game out of reach in the fourth inning on a two-run double to right center to bring the final score to 9-1, Oklahoma.

Freshman Jordy Bahl collected her seventh win of the season in the circle, going three innings and striking out three, surrendering one run on three hits and three walks. Sophomore Nicole May relieved for the final two innings and struck out three, giving up just one hit and one walk.

On the night, six Sooners registered a hit with five bringing in at least one run. Snow finished a perfect 2-for-2 to continue her hot start to 2022 while junior Kinzie Hansen went 2-for-3 and Boone finished 1-for-1 at the plate with a walk.

The Sooners move to 16-0 on the season with the home-opening win and are outscoring opponents 146-17 while batting .380 as a squad. The pitching staff holds a 0.68 combined ERA with 148 strikeouts. Monday's game marked just the fourth game of the year that the Sooners have not homered, still leading the country with 40 blasts.

Top-ranked OU returns to action in Honolulu on Thursday for the start of the Rainbow Wahine Classic hosted by the University of Hawaii. The Sooners meet Baylor, Cal and Hawaii on the island, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. CT contest Thursday vs. Baylor.

The first three games can be seen via SoonerSports.tv while the final against Hawaii on Saturday will be shown on ESPN+. All games can be heard on the radio via The Franchise 2 (103.3 FM/1560 AM) in Oklahoma and nationwide on the TuneIn app with OU play-by-play announcer Chris Plank on the call.

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