Oklahoma softball notebook: Grace Lyons finding her groove
She’s the captain for a reason, and Oklahoma softball senior Grace Lyons is starting to show why. Especially when it matters most.
Lyons helped get the Sooners going with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning in OU’s 11-0 (5 innings) victory against Hofstra in NCAA regional action Friday afternoon.
The win has the Sooners 52-1 overall, on a 44-game winning streak and playing the winner of the Missouri-California game 2 p.m. Saturday.
It was Lyons’ only hit of the game. But it was crucial. Oklahoma really found its groove from that point forward.
“I think there might be a few things,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “For her, she’s our captain so she’s in the circle and she’s talking. Very calm and cool and just, ‘What’s our plan?’ I think she knows this might be her last time on the field for a while. I don’t feel her pressing at all, just really wanting to go out on her terms.”
Oklahoma Takeaways
*Jayda Coleman had an interesting day at the plate. She launched one to the deepest part of the park, only for it to be caught up against the center field wall during her second at bat.
In the fourth inning, she didn’t get nearly as much of it, but it was this one that flew over the wall for a two-run home run.
“The game works in mysterious ways,” Coleman said. “I felt like I completely crushed that first one and it went nowhere. And then I felt like I missed the second one and it just happened to go out. But that’s just how the game is.”
Top 10
- 1
Kaidon Salter
Transfer QB signs with Colorado
- 2Hot
Zach Arnett
UNLV hiring former MSU HC
- 3Trending
SEC and Netflix
2024 season getting docuseries
- 4
Kirk Herbstreit
ESPN star talks son to Michigan
- 5
Jake Dickert
Wazzu HC hired by Wake Forest
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
*It has been raining all across the state for the better part of the last couple of weeks. But Marita Hynes Field was in tremendous condition. Gasso gave some love to the groundskeepers and what they’ve been able to do.
“They’re phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal,” Gasso said. “Hardworking. Scott Black, his crew, outstanding. Natalie Davis, her crew, getting all the water out of the stadium so people aren’t walking in puddles. They’ve been working nonstop, around the clock, and they’re there every time. This time of year, they’re at their best. Their game is top notch.”
*Oklahoma had a blue decal on its helmets that said Home on it, paying respect to the 10th anniversary of tornadoes that hit across the state.
“A lot of our athletes were not familiar with what happened 10 years ago,” Gasso said. “But myself, Jen Rocha, JT (Gasso), many of us were right in the middle of that devastation. And it left a lasting effect on us and knowing it’s the 10-year anniversary, it was just a tribute to the families. To those who were having to live life every day — those lost little ones especially.
“The Angle family is a family we connected to very much. Still have Sydney Angle, the little girl that passed in the tornado, her father sent me a text the other day. Just an appreciation text. So the fact that we can maybe bring some pride, make some people happy with that memory is what this was about.”
