Oklahoma Softball: OU Routs Indiana 15-1
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma continued its dominant start to the Hall of Fame Classic on Friday night.
Moments after dispatching Sam Houston State, the No. 1-ranked Sooners turned right around and breezed by Indiana, run-ruling the Hoosiers 15-1 at Hall of Fame Stadium.
The win continued OU’s perfect start to the season (22-0), and welcomed Patty Gasso’s team back to the Sooner State in style.
"I really liked the way we played tonight," Gasso said. "I thought we came out ready."
The games against Sam Houston State and Indiana only represented the second and third games actually played in Oklahoma for the Sooners this year, and the double-header was the first time OU fans got to cheer on Jocelyn Alo since her record-breaking home run in Hawaii.
In-between the two contests, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione and Gasso presented Alo with a commemorative plaque in front of the 4,817 fans who sold out the lower bowl.
Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
Gasso said the fans gave the team a huge lift after the coaching staff worked so hard to get the players physically ready to play despite the lingering jet lag from the Hawaii trip.
"I think it helped ignite us," Gasso said. "... When we walked in it was like, ‘Gee, what is going on.’ You get that many maybe — not even that many (fans) for the Big 12 Tournament. So to see them come out and know that they’re coming for us meant a lot. We wanted to show well for our fans.
"I don’t really think we understand the phenomenon that this has become. We just want to make the fans happy. … We just really wanted to embrace the crowd. It was a wow factor."
And in the bottom of the first inning, Alo delivered what the Sooner faithful really wanted to see — home run No. 97.
With Taylon Snow already on base, Alo turned on the 2-0 offering from Indiana pitcher Heather Johnson, blasting a no-doubter to center field to open up a 2-0 lead.
Alo’s homer only opened the Oklahoma salvo in the bottom of the first, as the Sooners would tack on four more runs.
Jayda Coleman drew a bases-loaded walk with no outs, setting up Alyssa Brito to continue her explosive Friday outing.
The Oregon transfer had already accounted for four RBIs in Game 1 against Sam Houston State on Friday, and Brito drove in another pair of runs against the Hoosiers, giving the Sooners a 5-0 lead.
"Alyssa Brito’s really got a lightbulb moment with J.T. (Gasso)," said Patty Gasso, "and I think things are really starting to turn around for her."
Brito said she leaned on the veteran leadership on the team to help her get acclimated after transferring to the Sooners, and that she's now in a good headspace to continue and improve.
"I just think understand that understanding that I’ve got other people that can pick me up now," said Brito, "and not really having to put much pressure on myself was one thing that really freed me up and allowed me to just play.
"I think that’s been a big thing for me. That ability to just play and not have to worry about results… That’s really changed the game for me."
Coleman then scored after Snow grounded into a fielder’s choice, rounding out the six-run inning.
Senior captain Lynnsie Elam added another pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning with a moon-shot home run to dead center field. The OU catcher then returned to add another run by drawing another walk with the bases juiced to push the lead to 9-0.
Grace Green and Snow added RBIs in the bottom of the fourth inning before Tiare Jennings’ two-run double pushed the lead to 13-0.
Mackenzie Donihoo closed out the scoring for the Sooners with a two-RBI single to plate Jennings and Alo.
Snow hit 2-for-3 against the Hoosiers, with Alo and Jennings both finishing 1-for-3 at the plate.
Grace Lyons was unable to get a hit against the Hoosiers, ending her 17-game hitting streak.
True freshman Jordy Bahl picked up the victory in the circle for OU, only allowing a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning.
Bahl struck out nine of the 18 batters she faced, and gave up no walks against Indiana.
The Sooners return to action with a pair of games on Saturday — first against San Diego, scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. OU will close out Saturday action against Houston at 6:30 p.m. at Hall of Fame Stadium.
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