Softball Live Blog: No. 1 Oklahoma Opens Stint at Mary Nutter With Pair of Friday Contests

Patty Gasso's No. 1-ranked Sooners take on No. 25 Mississippi State and Wisconsin from the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday night.

Ryan Chapman offers his real-time observations as the No. 1-ranked Sooners kick off their weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a pair of Friday night games against No. 25 Mississippi State and Wisconsin. Just keep the browser open and refresh for Chapman's updates throughout each of tonight's contests. 

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1:28 a.m.

Perfect day for OU. Karlie Keeney closes it out and Oklahoma defeats Wisconsin 10-2 in five innings. 

1:22 a.m.

Well, the stats feed has officially quit on me.

Don’t have the final line for Maxwell, but another nice outing for the OSU transfer. 

1:17 a.m.

Eight-run fourth inning capitalized on a number of shaky moments from Wisconsin in the field.

Run rule territory. 

1:11 a.m.

Bases loaded walk for Coleman. This one could suddenly get out of hand quickly. 

1:08 a.m.

I mean… You can’t make these mistakes or OU will make you pay.

Dropped a popup to the catcher, ends up as a single that loads the bases for Coleman.

Can’t live like that. 

1:00 a.m.

Pickering doubles to the wall and Coor comes all the way home.

OU 5 Wisconsin 2 | B4 1 Out

12:58 a.m.

Another mental mistake for Wisconsin.

The Badgers throw down to Hannah Coor trying to steal second which let Ella Parker glide home.

Should have been an out, but an odd obstruction call kept Coor aboard. Not sure why the throw even happened, though.

OU 4 Wisconsin 2 | B4 1 Out

12:56 a.m.

A couple of pretty bad bobbles have cost Wisconsin.

This time it was third baseman Emily Bojan who couldn’t corral Sanders’ hit, and Bland scores.

Gasso said OU would have more speed this year and it’s paying off for Oklahoma in this frame. 

12:52 a.m.

Ella Parker. Again.

She singles through the left side.

And then a great piece of base running from Maya Bland.

The freshman kept her eyes on the ball and she took off as soon as she saw the bobble in the outfield. Excellent work from a pair of true freshmen.

Sooners have runners on second and third with no outs. 

12:45 a.m.

Oklahoma looks totally devoid of any energy.

The Badgers tied the game up on a ball that snuck past Brito, and it’s 2-2 headed to the bottom of the fourth. 

12:27 a.m.

Wisconsin plates one on an odd play, bouncing off Sanders and Torres getting it back to Sanders to record the out.

Hansen makes a heady defensive play to get the runner at third, though.

The Sanders play was much more bad luck than some of the rock play from the first couple of innings against Mississippi State.

Anyways, to the bottom of the third we go.

OU 2 Wisconsin 1 | M3

12:18 a.m.

Rylie Boone has been Oklahoma's best player so far this season, and I'm not sure it's close. 

Slow roller up the middle gets Pickering to third, and lazy defense from the Badgers allowed the freshman to double the lead. 

Boone's ninth RBI of the year, and OU is up 2-0.

12:15 a.m.

I guess the umpire is trying to be the MVP tonight with that… expansive… strike three call on Cydney Sanders.

But the freshmen deliver.

Pickering doubles, Patty Gasso sends Parker and OU is up 1-0.

12:07 a.m.

Not sure how long the “pinch run every time someone reaches base” strategy will be viable for Wisconsin, but it was erased by a nice double play from Tiare Jennings.

Scoreless headed to the bottom of the second. 

11:58 p.m.

Nothing going for OU there. Glancing contact from both Coleman and Jennings and then Brito wasn’t too stoked about the strike three call.

Wisconsin bringing the energy early. 

11:52 p.m.

Kelly Maxwell issues a walk but otherwise smooth sailing in the top of the first.

Time for the OU bats.

OU 0 Wisconsin 0 | M1

11:44 p.m.

Alright, here we go. Game 2 imminent, and we have lineups between the Sooners and the Badgers. 

Unofficial Starting Lineups / OU Stats

11:18 p.m.

Game 1 is in the books. 

The Sooners erase an early deficit to roll past No. 25 Mississippi State. Keep the blog up, I'll be back with the second game of the night here in a few as OU takes on Wisconsin. 

Final: Oklahoma 9, Mississippi State 3

11:07 p.m.

Maxwell back to close it out for OU. 

Don't forget, once this game concludes this blog will carry on to close out the night with Oklahoma's second game against Wisconsin! I'll probably step out quickly between games to refill the energy drink reserves, but I'll be back before the game gets rolling to continue to blog well into the night. 

10:51 p.m.

No shock but Maxwell immediately closes out the top half of the sixth.

Last chance to add some insurance… or end the game outright with two more runs. 

10:48 p.m.

Wonder if Kelly Maxwell’s introduction into this first game means that Karlie Keeney will get the nod coming up in a few against Wisconsin. 

10:36 p.m.

OU has scored seven-straight runs headed into the sixth inning.

The early inning wobbles seem well in the past this evening. 

10:31 p.m.

That didn't take long. Wild pitch, Pickering scores. 

OU 8 MSU 3 | B5 2 Outs

10:30 p.m.

Felt like one of the few times Oklahoma was really unable to make anything happen tonight.

And then Kasidi Pickering stole second in the middle of Jayda Coleman’s at-bat.

Great to see the Sooner freshmen showing out tonight.

Parker and Pickering are 3-for-6, including Parker’s RBI.

Coleman gets aboard with an infield single, and suddenly OU is threatening with runners on the corner and two outs. Tiare Jennings time. 

10:19 p.m.

SJ Geurin flashes a huge smile as she gets Oklahoma out of the inning.

Doesn’t have to last 2 1/3 like she did last Sunday to be effective, and the Sooners roll into the bottom of the fifth inning still leading 7-3.

10:13 p.m.

It took a batter, but Gasso turned to SJ Geurin.

Having her pitch well last weekend was huge for Oklahoma. It meant the Sooners legitimately have six pitchers opposing teams have to prepare for, but it also gave Gasso the option to turn to a left-hander to bring the heat instead of just relying on righty Paytn Monticelli to up the velocity.

OU now will give Mississippi State a completely different look from May, and Gasso can go to Karlie Keeney if she needs to switch things back up again and move back to a right-hander. 

10:08 p.m.

Ella Parker is human after all. 

The freshman doesn't reach base for the first time tonight, and ends OU's threat in the fourth. 

Still a strong showing though. Oklahoma up 7-3.

10:00 p.m.

As odd as the start to the game was, Oklahoma’s bats came to play.

Alyssa Brito comes up huge again, driving in Jennings.

The Sooners are locked in at the plate, which is a great sign as they have an embarrassment of riches in the bullpen to get them through any game.

OU 7 MSU 3 | B4 2 Outs 

9:57 p.m.

If the first weekend of the season was a slow start for Jayda Coleman, I think it’s safe to say that’s behind the star center fielder.

She drew a walk, and then got on her horse to round the bases off Tiare Jennings’ huge double.

OU 6 MSU 3 | B4 1 Out

9:50 p.m.

It didn’t cost Oklahoma any runs, but yet another frame where the Bulldogs put multiple baserunners on. Have to wonder if Patty Gasso and Jennifer Rocha go to the bullpen in the fifth. Feels like a change of pace with SJ Geurin or Paytn Monticelli would be good for an inning before turning the game over to Kierston Deal, a lefty, to give Mississippi Sate a different look the rest of the way.

But what to I know. I’m just slamming Sour Patch Kids on my couch. 

9:36 p.m.

Freshman Ella Parker is unreal.

Through the first two weekends, she showed great patience and discipline, working through multiple walks.

Tonight she’s been excellent attacking early.

She didn’t need to look at any pitches, singling to bring Alyssa Brito home.

OU 5 MSU 3 | B2 2 Outs

9:33 p.m.

Nicole May finally charts an incident-free frame and the Sooners have a chance to extend the lead in the bottom of the third. 

9:25 p.m.

As up-and-down as things have been in the field, the Sooners are seeing Mississippi State pitcher Aspen Wesley really well right now. Even the outs are generally strong contact.

OU takes the 4-3 lead into the third inning. 

9:23 p.m.

Great couple of at-bats here from the Sooners.

Rylie Boone first doubled to tie the game, and then Avery Hodge was aggressive after Sacco made a great catch to give OU its first lead of the night.

OU 4 MSU 3 | B2 2 Outs

9:12 p.m.

Mississippi State delivers again with two outs.

Sacco bounces one over to Jennings and it deflected off the short stop’s glove and into left field.

Had to extend all the way out, but the deflection unfortunately meant Rylie Boone didn’t have a play on the ball.

Runners still on first and second.

OU 2 MSU 3 | T2 2 Outs 

9:08 p.m.

Great response from Alyssa Brito, though.

Throws out the lead runner, Cole, at home by approximately 6,000 feet. Runners now on first and second.

OU 2 MSU 2 | T2 1 out

9:06 p.m.

Early going, but Oklahoma’s defense has been flat-out bad so far.

Tiare Jennings muffs a sure-fire double-play ball, and Mississippi State has runners on the corners.

OU 2 MSU 2 | T2 0 Outs 

9:00 p.m.
The Sooners arrived.

Kinzie Hansen blasts one of her own, basically to the same spot Blaine hit her two-run shot.

The OU catcher is fueled by the California tai-tip.

OU 2 MSU 2 | B1 1 out

8:51 p.m.

May gets the full-count strikeout to get the Sooners out of the inning.

OU gets away with one on the runner leaving early, and then gives it right back with a bungled play in the infield and a rocket to hang a pair of runs on the board.

Coleman-Jennings-Hansen due up to respond. 

8:49 p.m.

No way out of this one.

Jessica Blaine crushes one out of the hand from Nicole May. Wasn’t close.

Avery Hodge should have had the Sooners out of the inning the batter before, but the uneven defensive play costs OU a pair of runs.

OU 0 MSU 2 | T1 2 outs

8:46 p.m.

Wow. What a break for the Sooners.

Sierra Sacco left early, and the run comes off the board. Cook comes back to the plate.

First break goes to OU.

OU 0 MSU 0 | T1 2 outs

8:44 p.m.

Everything about that looked off from Jayda Coleman.

Seemed she got a good jump on the ball, but it snaked over her head and then a bad relay throw back to the infield, though it would have been incredibly tough to get that home in time.

Paige Cook opens the scoring with an RBI-double.

OU 0 MSU 1 | T1 1 Out

8:42 p.m.

The strike zone may be an adventure tonight.

Not sure on a couple of those ball calls for batter No. 1, and not sure May actually clipped the back door for strike three there.

Also not the best angle on Flo to really stare it down for me, so take that for what it’s worth.

OU 0 MSU 0 | T1 1 Out 

8:36 p.m.

Nicole May indeed is your starting pitcher.

Defensive stalwart Avery Hodge gets the nod at second, Ella Parker is your DP and Kasidi Pickering in the outfield. No real shocks here after Patty Gasso had some fun shifting the lineup around last Saturday. 

8:33 p.m.

Houston, we have lineups. 

Unofficial starting lineups / OU Stats

8:18 p.m.

Well, I was close.

Oklahoma just announced first pitch will be at 8:40 p.m.

8:08 p.m.

Still no word yet on an official start time.

Meanwhile, I’ll be curious to see who starts this one in the circle for the Sooners.

Patty Gasso has gone with Nicole May, who she has dubbed as the matriarch of the pitching staff, to start off both of the first two weekends.

Could see that again and Kelly Maxwell go against Wisconsin. Would that leave Karlie Keeney to start tomorrow’s game against San Diego State? If the Sooners win both games today, that has huge trap game potential. Will be a late night at the ballpark and the Aztecs made a run to last year’s Super Regionals.

Decisions, decisions. 

8:03 p.m.

UCLA closes it out.

If the Mary Nutter sticks to your typical 40-minute gap between games, then first pitch between OU and Mississippi State would be 8:43 p.m.

I would wager the event tries to roll this through as fast as possible. I’ll see if I can track down a game time from the couch. 

7:55 p.m.

Back to California… Oh no, Northwestern.

Just a bad defensive miscommunication. Leads to a dropped ball in shallow center field and UCLA is on top 1-0.

The Wildcats have played really well, but can’t make those mistakes. We’ll take it if the game ends in seven innings, though.

7:45 p.m.

UCLA and Northwestern are still scoreless in the sixth inning so I’ll update you on some OU softball drama.

Monday, Eddie Radosevic and I spoke with Kinzie Hansen on the Franchise Morning Show (shameless plug, we’ll talk with either Hansen or Jayda Coleman every Monday at 9 a.m.), and she raved about this tri-tip sandwich that is apparently to die for at the Mary Nutter.

Tuesday, Eddie and I linked up with JT Gasso (Tuesday mornings at 8:20 a.m…. I told you I was shameless) and he indicated it was California BBQ.

So I tasked Alex Storako (you get it… Road to OKC radio show every week) to break the tie.

You be the judge. The polarizing Mary Nutter tri-tip sandwich.  / Photo via Alex Storako

Here’s your unofficial scoreboard from tonight already:

JT Gasso 1

Kinzie Hansen 0

Do with this information what you will.

7:40 p.m.

In the meantime can give you a little baseball update.

Popped over to the home opener for the first six innings earlier today to get a look at Skip Johnson’s crew, and they certainly looked the part.

I have no idea how good or bad Wright State is, but the experienced OU lineup was humming.

Didn’t matter if they played small ball or just tried to hit for power, everything they did resulted in runs.

Ended up at 20-0, and was a lovely day weather-wide at L Dale Mitchell Park.

Here’s John Hoover’s story about it from earlier. A pair of games on the schedule for the Sooners and the Raiders again tomorrow. 

7:35 p.m.

Important changes to my snack setup tonight.

Traded the sunflower seeds for some Sour Patch Kids Watermelons.

Anything to get you through the night.

Anyways, UCLA has runners on the corners with just one out in the bottom of the fifth.

I’m guessing this game gets over at 8 p.m. at the earliest and then it’s just a matter of how quickly the dugouts can get changed over… Yikes. 

7:25 p.m.

It was already going to be a late night for those of us in the central time zone.

Sooners were slated to take on Mississippi State at 7:30 p.m. before the night cap, but UCLA’s dramatic comeback against Nebraska has set the schedule back a bit.

On the bright side, Northwestern vs. UCLA has been an excellent contest so far… But somebody needs to win this one before extra innings. Start hitting the caffeine now! 

7:15 p.m.

Before things get rolling, a quick update on Mississippi State and Wisconsin, who started play at the Mary Nutter yesterday.

The Bulldogs went 2-0 on Thursday, beating UCF 2-1 and Notre Dame 7-4.

The Badgers split on Tuesday, topping Oregon State 3-2 but falling to Missouri 3-2.