Kansas’s Wichita In 5.1 innings of one-hit ball, sophomore left-hander Kierston Deal struck out nine batters as the No. 2/1-ranked Oklahoma softball team defeated Wichita State 7-0 on Tuesday night in Wichita, ending a two-game losing streak.
During the first two innings of the game, the Sooners (36-3, 13-2 Big 12) scored all seven runs by getting five walks from the opening pitcher for Wichita State (18-15, 9-6 AAC).
Alyssa Brito (2-for-3, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Avery Hodge (2-for-4, R, 2 SB), and Kinzie Hansen (2-for-2, 2 2B, 3 RBI) all had multi-hit games for Oklahoma, which also had a season-high five base steals that evening.
Deal pitched a masterful game to increase his record to 8-0 for the season, allowing only two Shockers to reach on singles and a hit hitter. After giving up a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, the southpaw retired 13 successive batters, forcing Wichita State to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground.
OU scored a three-spot in the first to give its starter an early advantage. To begin the game, Jayda Coleman (0-for-0, 2 BB, 2 R) earned a walk, extending her streak of games at bat to 26. She then moved to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI double by Brito.
OU scored a three-spot in the first to give its starter an early advantage. To begin the game, Jayda Coleman (0-for-0, 2 BB, 2 R) earned a walk, extending her streak of games at bat to 26. She then moved to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI double by Brito.
After working a free pass, Ella Parker (1-for-3, BB, R) doubled into right centre, plating Brito. Parker was scored on a ground out to left by Kasidi Pickering (0-for-2, RBI), increasing Oklahoma’s lead to 3-0.
Thanks to a tiny ball, the Sooners added four more points in the second half.
After leading off the inning with a bunt single, Hodge stole second and third bases, the latter as part of a double steal with Rylie Boone (0-for-0, BB, R, SB). Tiare Jennings (0-for 3, BB, R, RBI, SB) then scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Hansen drove in Coleman and Jennings with a two-run double that was pushed down the right-field line after Brito scored Boone on a sacrifice fly.
The Wichita State bullpen quieted Oklahoma’s offence, but as Deal dug in, the damage was already done. After coming on in the sixth, Karlie Keeney finished the game with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work.
Since 1990, OU has defeated Wichita State 42 times in a row, improving their record against the Shockers to 41-0 under head coach Patty Gasso.
On Thursday, April 11, OU will host Brigham Young University in the first game in a three-game conference series when it returns to Love’s Field.