[autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] kept her incredible start to the season going, throwing four innings of scoreless ball to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to an 8-0 run-rule win over South Dakota State on Monday night.
The impromptu matchup came as the Sooners’ finale with Omaha in the Bulldog Invitational was canceled due to the potential for inclement weather. Oklahoma didn’t miss a beat, jumping on the Jackrabbits early and maintaining control throughout the game.
May, who ran her scoreless inning streak to start the season to 43 innings, picked up her seventh win of the season. She allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out seven in the shutout effort. [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag] pitched the fifth for the combined shutout, but May was phenomenal in the circle.
At the plate, Oklahoma took advantage of the control issues from South Dakota State’s Tori Kniesche. After [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] flied out to centerfield, [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] drew walks before [autotag]Jocelyn Erickson[/autotag] was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] to the plate with two outs and an opportunity to put Oklahoma ahead early in the game.
She made Kniesche work to a full count before launching her first home run of the season, a grand slam, to give the Sooners a 4-0 lead after one. It was Torres’ first home run of the season after hitting 16 for Arizona State a year ago.
Oklahoma loaded the bases again in the second, this time on a pair of singles by Jayda Coleman and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag]. A two-out walk earned by Lee brought [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] to the plate with an opportunity to add to the Sooners’ lead with two outs in the inning. As she’s done regularly this season, Hansen came through with a two-RBI single to make it 6-0.
The Sooners went down in order in the third but picked up the offensive barrage in the fourth inning. [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag] reached on an error and advanced to second. With Coleman at the plate, Lilio advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jennings brought drove Lilio in with a sacrificed fly, but Coleman was doubled-up at first. However, Oklahoma was able to add to their lead, making it 7-0 through four.
Oklahoma took advantage of South Dakota State’s control struggles and put the first two batters on base via walk in the bottom of the fifth. After Sophia Nugent and Jocelyn Erickson walked, [autotag]Alynnah Torres[/autotag] reached on an error to load the bases. With one out, and the bases loaded, [autotag]Alyssa Britto[/autotag] picked up Oklahoma’s second hit by pitch and sixth walk of the evening to drive in the winning run.
The top of the order was strong once again for the Oklahoma Sooners. Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, and [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] were a combined 2 for 4, but reached base six times, scored four runs, and had an RBI. No other Sooner reached base multiple times in the game.
The win moves Oklahoma to 21-1 on the season and sets them up for a top-five showdown with the Florida State Seminoles on Tuesday night in Norman.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm CT and can be seen on ESPN+.