OU bats come alive in softball sweep vs. Iowa State
It’s OU softball, so using the term struggling is absolutely relative. We’re not talking about going hitless in two weeks or anything like that. Or a team-wide issue, either.
But for who senior co-captains Tiare Jennings and Kinzie Hansen have been throughout their careers for head coach Patty Gasso, you could argue they had been struggling. Or at least just a mini-slump.
Sunday, though, was a nice time to bust out of it. Both hit three-run home runs en route to an OU 14-1 five-inning, run-rule victory at Love’s Field to complete the three-game sweep of Iowa State.
“Especially game two and three, that was Sooner style,” Gasso said. “We feel like we’re starting to trend that way. We found some things that really resonated and fought throughout. Pitching was outstanding this weekend. Defense very good. Some timely hitting. Just a really complete weekend, specifically games two and three.”
Eventually, somebody had to throw a pitch to hit, and Jennings was ready in the bottom of the first. Jennings had been 0-for-7 but made up for it very quickly.
OU had one out and drew two walks when Jennings crushed it to right-center to give her seventh home runs this season.
That was the start. Then the third inning was the sign that OU has officially moved on from the shocking loss last weekend.
A crooked number, an eight-spot in the third to wrap this one up. It began with the three-run home run by Hansen. And it just kept coming.
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Cydney Sanders crushed a two-run home run to give her four in three games against the Cyclones. Then freshman Ella Parker closed it out with a two-run shot of her own.
Sanders seems like an easy winner for Big 12 Player of the Week.
“That has really become a little bit of the magic that sounds so simple but when you’re going up there and trying to win a spot or trying to stay the lineup or whatever it is, you’re just trying to do big things,” Gasso said. “I think they’ve taken that down and minimized that. How can I help this team? With that and thinking less and being free, that’s what you’re seeing.
Quincee Lilio got into the act as well with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.
The eight-run third most likely chased Kierston Deal out for the Sooners. Deal had already done the job in the first three frames to pave the way for Paytn Monticelli. She struck out three in 1.1 innings, before making way for SJ Geurin.
Deal allowed just one hit in three innings with four strikeouts.
“Well, we’ve got it figured out now,” Gasso said. “Because last week, I don’t think we knew what to feel, what was coming. It is, I think they’ll tell you, it is amazing to play in front of big crowds. They absolutely — whether it’s home or it’s away — they love big crowds. And they’re starting to understand this really is our home field. And that’s what you saw is this kind of exhale and kaboom.”
Up next
Before OU hits the road for the first time in March, more action at Love’s Field. The Sooners will host Tarleton State for a doubleheader Tuesday, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. OU will head to Lubbock next weekend for a three-game set at Texas Tech. The Sooners (22-1, 3-0) have won four in a row.
Here they come.
“Something that we talked about within our circle is we have something to prove,” Hansen said. “We know what’s going on in outside world with the softball and all that stuff. But within our circle? We have something to prove to one another, and that’s what is important.”