OU softball takes two from Iowa State to begin Big 12
Talking to OU softball players earlier this week, the consensus about Love’s Field is it will be a hitter’s playground.
We got an idea of what that could look like in the second game for OU and head coach Patty Gasso in the doubleheader against visiting Iowa State.
The Sooners hit bomb after bomb in earning the 11-2 five-inning, run-rule victory, the second of two wins against the Cyclones to open up Big 12 conference action.
“Really good. I think we were anxious, excited to get started,” Gasso said. “The energy in the first game was not exactly what we were looking for. We had a little conversation and they came out in game two looking like the team that everyone’s been used to seeing.
“It was really wonderful to see that. Really clean games all the way around. Good pitching. Kelly had one of her best games thus far. Nicole May came in game two and gave up a couple quick, early runs and then just really settled in. I liked the way Keeney came in and looked really sharp. Good hitting all the way through, as well. Just a really, good solid day of softball.”
It was the Cydney Sanders show throughout the doubleheader. Her three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth sent us to the run-rule territory.
Fitting because Sanders also got it started. Jayda Coleman and Cydney Sanders went back-to-back in a five-run first inning. Coleman hit a two-run opposite field shot to give OU a 4-2 lead. Sanders followed with the first shot to land in the juniper trees in dead center. Sanders now is tied for the team lead with seven home runs.
“Just seeing a strike and swinging, honestly,” Sanders said. “At my last at bat, I told coach at the first-pitch strike and I ended up not, but it ended up working out in the end. Just seeing pitches and taking good swings on them.
“I think I’m just focusing on playing free, not really worried about any outcomes Just kinda get in the box and looking for a pitch to hit. Not really thinking too much at all. It’s working out a lot.”
And you want an unlikely one to go yard? To begin the second inning, it was Rylie Boone hitting her first home run of the season.
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OU scored a run in every single inning, punctuating things with a four-run bottom of the fourth.
The offense rolling allowed Nicole May to settle down a bit. After giving up two runs and two hits and walk in the top of the first, she found her groove.
May didn’t walk another batter or allow another run. Karlie Keeney came in to finish it out in the fifth.
The Sooners are now 21-1 overall, 2-0 in the Big 12, and have won three games in a row.
OU 4, Iowa State 0
One big bomb from Cydney Sanders, and let Kelly Maxwell do the rest to begin the three-game set vs. ISU.
Maxwell threw all seven innings, throwing 126 pitches. She allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight in earning her sixth win of the season.
“I’d definitely say it was the response from last weekend,” Maxwell said. “We had a really good week in the bullpen with coach Rocha, and I think it just showed today. All that hard work I put in, just being able to go after hitters and really believe in myself.”
Sanders hit a three-run home run. Rare game where the bats weren’t working as no OU player had multiple hits. But Sanders made her one, clearly, count, and Maxwell did the rest.
