It was a strong start to the NCAA tournament for the Oklahoma Sooners, who picked up their 31st shutout of the season with their 11-0 win over Hofstra in the opener of the Norman Regional.
The Sooners received home run blasts from Grace Lyons and Jayda Coleman. Both Lyons and Coleman hit a pair of two-run bombs to help get the Sooners out in front quickly. The home run hitters from the win were each held to just one hit, but they made it count.
It was Kinzie Hansen leading the way at the plate with a 3-for-3 effort with four RBIs. She was clutch with runners in scoring position, providing timely hitting. With her performance, she’s upped her batting average to .409, which is third on the team in 2023. Hansen now has 48 RBIs, which is also third.
Hansen’s played in only 40 of Oklahoma’s 53 games after missing the start of the 2023 season. Her timely hitting and steady hand behind the plate have been huge for the Sooners. While others may be getting more headlines, Hansen’s put together a comeback player of the year type season after battling injuries in 2022.
Hansen’s had a huge hand in helping the Oklahoma Sooners pitching staff become the best in the country. Her strong veteran presence and understanding of the game provide a security for the Sooners pitchers that helps them be at their best.
It was another strong performance from Nicole May, arguably the most underrated player in collegiate softball. She threw another four scoreless innings, allowing one hit to the Pride to pick up her 17th win of the season.
May has the second-lowest ERA among qualified pitchers at 0.58 in 2023. She allowed just one hit and no walks. Just an absolutely dominant performance from the sophomore pitcher.
And it’s that depth, both in the lineup and the rotation, that’s made the Oklahoma Sooners so dangerous in 2023. They’ve been able to keep everyone fresh on the pitching staff, with nobody throwing more than Jordy Bahl’s 109.1 innings pitched.
Now, Oklahoma gets ready for former Big 12 and future SEC foe Missouri on day two of the Norman Regional.
Here are some of the best photos from Friday’s action in Norman.