OU softball sweeps Baylor in doubleheader as Sooners blast three home runs

NORMAN — The OU softball team had moments when it felt pressure from Baylor in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Love’s Field. 

OU starting pitcher Kierston Deal somewhat struggled with control at times as she walked four batters but limited any potential damage. 

Meanwhile, OU’s offensive stars did what they often do, belting home runs and adding sparks on the base paths. 

“Every time Baylor scored, we came back and answered immediately,” OU coach Patty Gasso said after the top-ranked Sooners’ 7-4 victory, which capped a three-game series sweep of the 19th-ranked Bears. 

“That’s the sign of a good team. And that’s what we want to be. Right now, I feel like we’re really starting to move in a great direction, top to bottom.” 

More:Relive OU softball's run to three straight WCWS titles with our 'Crimson Empire' book

After beating Baylor 12-3 in five innings in the first game Saturday, the Sooners picked up where they left off and rolled in Game 2. 

Ella Parker, who sealed OU’s first win Saturday with a walk-off grand slam, drove in the Sooners’ first run of Game 2 on a single off starter RyLee Crandall that scored Jayda Coleman. 

Three OU players later homered as Alyssa Brito hit a two-run blast in the third, Alynah Torres launched a solo shot in the fourth and Tiare Jennings added a solo liner in the fifth that rocketed just above the left field wall. 

Brito led OU (31-1, 9-0 Big 12) with three RBI against the Bears (17-11, 1-8), while Torres was second on the team with two as the Sooners’ offense finished with a stellar day. 

Here are some other takeaways from the series finale. 

More:Big 12 softball power rankings: How high did Kansas vault with sweep of Baylor?

OU’s Kinzie Hansen enters as pinch hitter 

OU star catcher Kinzie Hansen entered in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter. 

Hansen is battling a knee issue and hadn’t played since the Sooners’ series opener at Texas Tech on March 15. 

“She’s obviously feeling better, but I wasn’t quite ready for that,” Gasso said. “So I think we need to be a little bit smarter going forward because she’s not completely ready yet. Once the crowd started roaring, I’m like, ‘Oh, (associate head coach) JT (Gasso). I want to kill you.’ 

“But it’s her senior day, too, so I think that had something to do with just giving her an opportunity to stand in front of the crowd, as well. She’s coming along well. I’m very optimistic that you’ll see her here in a couple weeks, if not sooner.” 

Riley Ludlam played catcher in Hansen’s absence. 

Ludlam, a graduate transfer who arrived from Furman, played well Saturday and hit a two-run homer in the first game. 

“We had a couple catchers leave us unexpectedly and we went scrambling because a lot of good catchers were already pulled in other directions at other universities,” Gasso said. 

“And it was just a blessing for her and I to find each other. And when I called her, she didn’t believe it was me, and it took me a while to get her to understand that I am the coach at Oklahoma. She came out on a visit. She was wonderful, family wonderful. I knew I wanted her here.”  

More:OU softball: Tiare Jennings breaks Sydney Romero's career doubles mark for Sooners

OU’s Alynah Torres shows off versatility 

Alynah Torres is listed as a utility player on OU’s roster and that description certainly fits the fifth-year senior who played at Arizona State during her first three seasons of college before transferring to the Sooners. 

Torres started at second base in the first game, then played right field and first base in the second matchup. 

Torres went 2 for 2 with a homer and two RBI in the second game. 

“I think we just have a very versatile team,” third baseman Alyssa Brito said. “A lot of speed but instinctive people. I mean, you have Ella Parker that steals bags and (Rylie) Boone is running everywhere and then people just shooting gaps and taking extra bags.” 

More:What makes OU softball's new stadium stand out? Here are the top features of Love's Field

OU’s Kierston Deal improves to 7-0 

Kierston Deal started in the circle and allowed just three hits and one run in four innings, earning the win and improving to 7-0 on the season. 

Karlie Keeney,  a graduate transfer from Liberty, tossed 1⅔ innings in relief and didn't allow any hits. 

Oklahoma State graduate transfer Kelly Maxwell pitched the final 1⅓ innings. She allowed three hits and three runs in the sixth but settled down and retired all three batters she faced in the seventh. 

More:Relive OU softball's run to three straight WCWS titles with our 'Crimson Empire' book

Former Oklahoma high school stars shine for Baylor 

Deer Creek alum Emily Hott and former Carl Albert star Zadie LaValley had some big moments for Baylor. 

Hott went 3 for 3 and was a triple short of the cycle in the first game and finished 1 for 2 with an RBI and two runs in the second matchup. 

LaValley entered as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning of the first game and hit a two-run homer. She started at catcher in the second matchup.