One of the more highly anticipated debuts for the 2024 season was that of [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag]. The Oklahoma State transfer delivered in her first start for the Oklahoma Sooners, throwing five shutout innings in Oklahoma’s 3-0 win over the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils.
Maxwell allowed a walk and a hit across those five innings to earn her first win with the Sooners. The Blue Devils opened the game with a hit from leadoff hitter D’auna Jennings, but Maxwell put the clamps on after allowing a leadoff walk in the top of the second. She was perfect over her final 12 batters.
Duke starter Cassidy Curd held the Sooners at bay for the first couple of innings, but [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] opened the scoring with a solo shot to center field to put Oklahoma up 1-0. [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] drove in [autotag]Maya Bland[/autotag]. Torres came around on an infield single by [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] and a throwing error to make it 3-0. That’s all Oklahoma’s pitching staff needed to improve to 2-0.
More: Social media reacts to Kasidi Pickering’s grand slam in her first career at bat.
Karlie Keeney relieved Maxwell in the sixth inning and retired Duke in order. The seventh inning was a little more interesting. After Keeney recorded the first out, Duke loaded the bases on a walk, single and hit by pitch.
With the go-ahead run at the plate, Keeney came through with a strikeout and groundout to earn her first save with the Sooners.
This is what the Oklahoma Sooners expected when they brought in Maxwell and Keeney via the transfer portal. They have the ability to pitch in big games and come through with big-time performances.
The Oklahoma Sooners are 2-0 and will face Washington and Long Beach State to close their time in the Puerto Vallarta College Classic. They have won 55 in a row.
They’ll face the Washington Huskies on Friday night before taking on Long Beach State in the finale on Saturday.
More: How to watch No. 1 Oklahoma in the Puerto Vallarta College Classic
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