No. 1 OU Opens KU Series with Run-Rule Shutout

Friday, April 28

Norman

1 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

43-1, 0

Kansas

22-22, 0

Kansas

Oklahoma

No. 1 OU Opens KU Series with Run-Rule Shutout

April 28, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Highlights Box Score: OU 8, KU 0 (5)Photo Gallery

NORMAN — The No. 1 Oklahoma softball team fired on all cylinders in a 8-0 run-rule win over Kansas in the series opener Friday afternoon at Marita Hynes Field.

The game was not short of highlight-reel moments with the offense blasting four homers on the day, including three consecutive in the second, while Rylie Boone made a sensational full-extension catch and pitcher Jordy Bahl hit the walk-off, pinch-hit RBI after pitching an individual shutout.

After a scoreless first inning, OU's bats came to life in the second with a trio of home runs in consecutive at-bats. Super senior Grace Lyons started the flurry with her sixth homer of the season on a two-run shot prior to Alyssa Brito and Kinzie Hansen following suit with solo blasts to put OU (43-1, 13-0) up 4-0 through two innings. It was the seventh time this season OU has hit consecutive homers and second time the team has hit three straight.

Bahl retired seven straight Jayhawks (22-22, 4-9) from the second through fourth innings before OU put up another run in the fourth courtesy of junior Jayda Coleman. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Coleman ripped her first home run since April 7 and 12th of the season to tie for the team lead. It was OU's fourth of the game, marking the sixth time this year the Sooners have gone yard four-plus times.

Needing three runs to walk the game off in run-rule fashion, the Sooners did just that in the fifth, all with a pair of outs. Following a walk to Lyons and single from Brito, Hansen laced an RBI single to left to score one. After a walk drawn by redshirt freshman Quincee Lilio, Bahl stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and dropped in a two-run single to right field to end the contest via mercy rule.

It marked Bahl's first career walk-off hit and her seventh and eighth RBIs of her sophomore campaign. In the circle, the All-American pitcher tossed her sixth individual shutout of the season, scattering four hits with no walks to go with seven strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Lyons, Brito and Hansen all collected multi-hit games with two hits each while Bahl, Coleman and Boone each recorded hits to bring OU's total to nine on the day.

The Sooners registered their fourth consecutive shutout, seventh straight shutout in conference play and 27th on the season while securing their 23rd run-rule victory of 2023 in 44 games.

With Friday's win, OU is one win away from clinching a share of the 2023 Big 12 regular season title and a pair of wins from winning the title outright. It would be Oklahoma's 11th consecutive conference regular season crown and 15th overall.

The teams meet for the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CT before a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday. The games can be seen via ESPN+ and heard on 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma and nationwide on The Varsity Network app. Tickets are sold out.

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