No. 1/1 Oklahoma Sweeps Day One at Mary Nutter

Friday, February 23

Cathedral City, Calif.

7:30 PM

University of Oklahoma

10-0

Mississippi State

10-2

Mississippi State

Oklahoma

Photo by: Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma

No. 1/1 Oklahoma Sweeps Day One at Mary Nutter

February 23, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 1/1 Oklahoma pushed its NCAA-record winning streak to 64 games with a doubleheader sweep to open the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday evening in Cathedral City, dropping No. 20/25 Mississippi State 9-3 before run-ruling Wisconsin 10-2 in the nightcap.

The Sooners (11-0, 0-0 Big 12) responded to an early two-run deficit against the Bulldogs (10-2, 0-0 SEC) by scoring at least a run in each of the game's first five innings. OU used an eight-run fourth to put away the Badgers (6-8, 0-0 Big Ten) late on Friday evening.

Tiare Jennings moved into second all-time in career RBIs at OU with the 255th of her career, recording the mark with an RBI single against Mississippi State. Both Nicole May and Kelly Maxwell earned their fourth wins of the season in the circle while OU's bullpen extended its scoreless inning streak to 27.1 innings to open the year.

No. 1/1 Oklahoma 9, No. 20/25 Mississippi State 3

OU found itself in a 2-0 hole early against Mississippi State following a two-run Bulldog homer in the first. Graduate catcher Kinzie Hansen (1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI) quickly evened things up with a two-run blast of her own in the home half, knotting the game at two. The Bulldogs struck right back for a run in the second to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the frame.

Singles from Ella Parker (2-for-3, R, RBI) and Avery Hodge (1-for-2, R) placed two aboard for Sooner left fielder Rylie Boone (1-for-3, 2B, RBI). The OU senior promptly lifted an RBI double down the right field line to plate Parker, then Jayda Coleman (2-for-2, BB, 3 R, RBI, SF) brought home Hodge to give Oklahoma a one-run lead.

The Sooners continued to string together positive at-bats the rest of the way, adding a run in the third on a Parker RBI single and pushing across two more in the fourth. Tiare Jennings (2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) doubled home Coleman before Alyssa Brito (2-for-4, R, RBI) brought her across with a run-scoring single four pitches later.

A wild pitch and a Jennings RBI single in the fifth accounted for Oklahoma's final two runs.

Nicole May earned the win after tossing 4.0 innings of three-run ball and striking out four. The right-hander scattered seven hits and three walks, settling in after a tumultuous first two innings of work. SJ Geurin issued a lone walk and faced the minimum among her five batters faced in relief by inducing a double-play ball. Kelly Maxwell closed things out, striking out four to account for each of her four outs and working around a pair of walks.

No. 1/1 Oklahoma 10, Wisconsin 2 (5)

As game two steadily crept into the late hours of Friday night, OU used a monster fourth and sloppy Wisconsin defense to take the nightcap in five innings.

The Sooners opened the scoring in the second courtesy of RBI singles off the bats of Kasidi Pickering (2-for-2, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI) and Rylie Boone (1-for-1, BB, R, RBI). Wisconsin responded with a run in the third and fourth, drawing the game even at 2-2.

Kelly Maxwell provided the Sooners with 4.0 innings of two-run ball, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out four.

Oklahoma's lineup surged to life in the bottom of the fourth, plating eight runs on four hits and four Badger errors. Karlie Keeney retired three of four in a scoreless fifth to finish off Wisconsin in run-rule fashion.

Nine different Sooners reached base in the win while Ella Parker (1-for-2, BB, 2 R, 2 SB) stole a career-high two bases.

Up Next

OU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a 12:30 p.m. PT (2:30 p.m. CT) start against RV/RV San Diego State. The game will be broadcast on FloSoftball and 1560AM/103.3 FM The Franchise 2.

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