Oklahoma beat Missouri 11-0 to stay unbeaten in the Norman Regional. Oklahoma dominated the Tigers from start to finish thanks to a healthy combination of its offense and a strong performance from Jordy Bahl.
The Sooners got the scoring started as Jayda Coleman and Haley Lee reached base to put immediate pressure on the Tigers. After a double-steal, Cydney Sanders then singled, bringing in both baserunners to give Oklahoma a 2-0 lead.
The top of the order struck again in the top of the third. Coleman led off with a walk, and Lee drove her in with a double. Kinzie Hansen stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run home run to make it 5-0 after three.
The only thing notable in the fourth inning was Missouri’s lone hit of the game. Jordy Bahl, who was cruising, worked around the two-on, one-out situation with a fielder’s choice and a strikeout to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Sooners got extended their lead thanks to the base running of Haley Lee. Lee advanced to second on Kinzie Hansen’s fielder’s choice and then took third and home on a pair of wild pitches from Missouri pitcher Megan Shumacher. Cydney Sanders then hit her sixth home run of the season to make it 7-0.
In the sixth inning, Tiare Jennings put the Sooners in run-rule territory with an sacrifice fly, but the Sooners went hunting for more. Quincee Lilio walked with the bases loaded and two outs to make it 9-0. Super senior Grace Green did what she does best, coming through in a pinch-hit situation with a pair of RBIs for an 11-0 lead.
Jordy Bahl got the start for the Sooners and was nothing short of dominant. She retired Missouri’s first nine batters. Bahl recorded seven strikeouts and allowed one hit in five innings pitched. The Big 12 first-team selection allowed just two base runners on the afternoon to improve to 16-1 on the season and lower her ERA to 1.10.
Kierston Deal relieved Bahl in the sixth and struck out two before a popup ended the game.
Jayda Coleman walked three times and scored each time she reached base. Haley Lee was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Cydney Sanders had a 2-for-3 day and Kinzie Hansen now has six RBIs in the NCAA tournament.
The Sooners have now outscored their Norman Regional opponents 22-0 and the pitching staff has allowed just two hits.
Now Oklahoma gets to breathe a bit as they wait to see who emerges from the loser’s bracket. Missouri will take on the winner of California vs. Hofstra Saturday night to see who gets to play the Sooners. The Sooners can wrap up the Norman Regional starting at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=683578888]
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jake on Twitter @jake_faigus