OU begins new era at Love's Field with double-header sweep

That is one way to open up Love’s Field for OU softball.

And it’s yet another memory for Kinzie Hansen to make.

The co-captain, the super senior opened Love’s Field in style with a two-run walk-off home run to earn the 9-7 victory in the OU Tournament in the first game at Love’s Field on Friday afternoon.

Hansen’s blast came after what felt like an improbable four-run top of the seventh from Miami (Ohio) that included back-to-back-to-back home runs.

“It was tough. I’m going to be honest,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “It’s no excuse, I think they would tell you that. But the expectations, the anxiety, the build-up of it all. Then we’re out and we’re going through the gathering of people and the whole ceremony … it’s a little emotional. It was a lot. It felt like a lot of chaos. Good chaos, but I don’t know that we knew that it would drain us that much. The team made a comment that it felt that it felt like we were playing at an away field. But it just felt so different. We did not know what this was going to feel like. Unfortunately we didn’t get to test it out much.  

“But it wasn’t really the field. It was the fans that threw us for a loop. It was very loud. You could just feel the energy . And I feel I speak for our team, I felt that we were very tight in the first game. It took us a while to get going. The Lord made that game to be the way it was to break in the stadium. It was a thriller. Fans were in it. There was a lot of hitting, a lot of dramatics. We were much more ourselves in the second game, but it took us a little time to get this figured out. It was a little overwhelming, really.”

An incredibly emotional day that began with a dedication ceremony three hours before first pitch. But it was Miami (Ohio) who reminded everybody there was still work to be done.

The joke all week was about who would hit the first home run at Love’s Field, turned out to be Karli Spaid for Miami (Ohio). Huh. OK, game on.

The visitors scored three in the top of the first inning and didn’t register another hit until the seventh inning barrage.

It was about OU finding its composure, groove and earning its 68^th straight victory. It did, slowly but surely. A champions’ heart. Never out of it – it’s the way this team operates.

A big blast came from Alyssa Brito, with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-3. Riley Ludlam came through with a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth.

OU took control in that frame, looking like it was over. Jayda Coleman hit a two-run home run, and then freshman Kasidi Pickering went back-to-back to stretch the lead in the bottom of the sixth. And then Miami made its stunning surge.

“You could feel the energy…” #OU HC Patty Gasso, talking about Day 1 Love’s Field pic.twitter.com/2hUGX9Ykwl

— Bob Przybylo (@BPrzybylo) March 2, 2024

Nicole May didn’t have her best stuff but did earn the first strikeout at Love’s Field. She went 3.2 innings, allowing the two hits with five walks and six strikeouts.

SJ Geurin came in after Karlie Keeney’s rough seventh inning and Geurin earned the win with her performance in the seventh.

“This is the final piece to complete the OU softball program,” said head coach Patty Gasso during the dedication ceremony. “This is it, right here. And everyone is going to follow the lead. Our team is honored to represent over 300 alumni, some that are here today on this field. We will give our best to make all of you proud.”

And Hansen just added to her legacy.

“Well, I don’t know why I always gotta be in two strikes,” Hansen said. “So that kind of was frustrating. But our pitchers — they never do that. They never give up home runs like that. They never give up runs and walks and things like that.

“So for me going into my last at bat, I was thinking about Nicole and Keeney and SJ and how they were kind of going through the trenches a little bit. That was a great hitting team Miami. They take some great hacks. So credit to them for sure. But going up I was just thinking about Karlie and thinking she came in to close the game so I’m going to have her back right here and I’m going to do my job and get it done.”

OU 8, Liberty 0 (5)

OU (16-0) showed discipline in this one. There wasn’t a lot of offense but kept taking advantage of Liberty’s mistakes. Combine that with Kelly Maxwell, and it’s the first run-rule at Love’s Field.

Kasidi Pickering did hit another home run, her second of the day.

Maxwell pitched all five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven.

The Sooners scored five in the bottom of the fourth. And then Alynah Torres sent everybody home with two more in the fifth, a two-run double with one out.

The OU winning streak is now 69 games.