Tag: Kinzie Hansen

No. 5 Oklahoma wins Courtyard Marriott Tournament

The Sooners exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to top Northwestern 5-1 and claim the Courtyard Marriott Tournament. 

For the first time since the 2019 World Series, Nicole Mendes stepped up to the plate with a chance to give Oklahoma the lead on Sunday.

The senior’s brace was the only indicator of a torn ACL last fall, as her swing was smooth early in her at bat.

On the fifth, she connected hard enough to ricochet the ball off the Northwestern first baseman’s glove. Mendes reach first safely, and freshman Kinzie Hansen streaked home to put the Sooners ahead 2-1.

Mendes was among the four Sooners with an RBI in the fifth inning Sunday, as they exploded for five runs in the inning to top Northwestern 5-1 and claim the Courtyard Marriott Tournament.

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a really hard process,” Mendes said after Sunday’s game. “I’ve had to learn a lot. Make a lot of adjustments and grow up as a person and as a player. But to be able to watch this team, as young as we are and as depleted as we are, watch us grow and work together… It’s been really fun to watch.”

Oklahoma’s weekend began with an 8-3 win over the very same team, as Lynnsie Elam finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s.

In their second game Friday, Elam, Eliyah Flores and Raylee Pogue all hit solo home runs in the third inning to push the Sooners past Abilene Christian 4-2.

The Sooners split Saturday’s games with North Texas, dropping the first game in a tight contest 4-3. The Mean Green out-hit the Sooners 9-8.

After suffering their fifth loss of the year, the Sooners turned around and smacked 17 hits in their second game against UNT. Eight different players finished with home runs in the contest.

On Sunday, Shannon Saile put together the Sooners most consistent pitching performance of the weekend, going all seven innings and striking out 10 different batters.

“Today was her best day, no doubt.” head coach Patty Gasso said after Saile’s performance Sunday. “Just really calm, very much in control. Much better job being ahead of hitters. We’ve got a lot of work to do and this team is ready to do it.”

Oklahoma now looks to a five-game home-stand that begins this Wednesday. The Sooners slate starts with Wichita State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and Mercer and Utah at 2:30 and 5 p.m. on Friday, respectively. They’ll finish their week with Murray State at 2:30 p.m. and Missouri State at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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Oklahoma softball falls to second-ranked Washington 12-2

Oklahoma softball lost their second game of the year on Saturday to No. 2 Washington 12-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Oklahoma softball lost their second game of the year on Saturday to No. 2 Washington 12-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

The Huskies were all over the third-ranked Sooners from the get-go, jumping out to 7-0 lead before Oklahoma could answer back. They scored two runs in the first inning and poured on four more in the second.

Washington was one run away from a run-rule before the Sooners scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Taylon Snow singled to scored Alycia Flores. Freshman Kinzie Hansen would then single to score Snow.

Only four Sooners finished with hits against Washington’s starting pitcher Kelley Lynch. Huskies’ reliever Gabbie Plain didn’t allow a hit in two innings of work.

The Huskies scored four more runs in the last inning.

After run-ruling Nebraska early Friday, the Sooners beat Texas A&M and Seattle University by just one point each. Both contests finished 2-1 in favor of Oklahoma.

The Sooners, now 11-2, will finish off the Mary Nutter Classic with a Sunday matchup against Wisconsin at 11 a.m.

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Three takeaways from Oklahoma softball practice before Mary Nutter Classic

Third-ranked Oklahoma is off to a 8-1 start, and is looking to be in prime position to make another Women’s College World Series run.

Third-ranked Oklahoma is off to an 8-1 start and is looking to be in prime position to make another Women’s College World Series run. After suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday, the Sooners bounced-back later that night to earn a signature, extra-inning win over No. 4 Arizona. After practice on Tuesday, the team had plenty to say about what made this Sooners team special.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Despite another great start to the season, head coach Patty Gasso said at Tuesday’s practice the Sooners are nowhere near their maximum potential.

“I kinda told the team, ‘it’s like when your parents tell you to make your bed and you just throw the covers up and make it looks like it’s right, versus really pulling the sheets right and tucking them in strong and putting everything where it needs to be. That’s sort’ve how we’ve been playing.”

Gasso said the team wasn’t playing their best this past weekend but should be full-speed ahead by the time Big 12 play begins.

STAR POWER

Oklahoma has had its fair share of softball superstars and looks to have another in freshman Kinzie Hansen

Through nine games, she leads the team with 13 hits and 14 RBI’s. For coach Gasso, her play is something reminiscent of her past players.

“It reminds me a lot of those players like the Lauren Chamberlains and even the Syd Romero’s and Shay Knightens. She’s coming in pretty fearless.”

FRESHMAN FEVER

Oklahoma has been heavily reliant on its core of freshman up to this point, using Olivia Rains and Macy McAdoo in the pitching rotation, and relying on Hansen and Rylie Boone offensively.

McAdoo picked up the first ranked win of her collegiate career against No. 5 Arizona on Saturday. “I would say that I was ready for it, mentally and physically,” she said.

Oklahoma is back in action Friday against Nebraska at 12:30 p.m. at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, California.

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Oklahoma softball goes undefeated in Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Oklahoma softball (4-0) went a perfect 3-0 in the PV College Challenge on Friday and Saturday to close out the weekend. 

After winning their season opener 9-3 over Nevada on Thursday, Oklahoma softball went 3-0 on Friday and Saturday to close out the weekend. 

All four games were apart of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. Oklahoma (4-0) and Oregon (5-0) finished as the only two undefeated teams in session one.

On Friday the Sooners earned their largest win of the season with a 10-3 victory over Long Beach State. Much like their opener, true freshman Kinzie Hansen had another solid outing, earning two RBI’s in the first inning to give the Sooners an early lead. From there, Oklahoma added three more runs in the second inning and coasted to a 7-point win.

Oklahoma picked up a pair of close wins on Saturday with a 5-2 win over George Washington University and a 3-1 win over BYU.

Brooke Vestal, Macy McAdoo and Shannon Saile all contributed to the Sooners win in the circle against George Washington. Saile is the only player to have pitched in all four games for the Sooners. 

Oklahoma trailed 2-1 after the third inning, but scored four runs in the fourth inning to power past GW. Sophomore Grace Green had two hits and two RBI’s.

In their second game on Saturday, the Sooners finally broke out All-American pitcher Giselle Juarez. Saile started five innings in the circle before Juarez entered in relief, allowing one run and striking out three. 

Next up, Oklahoma travels to Tuscon, Arizona to participate in the Hillenbrand Invitational, taking on Bryant, Northern Iowa, Long Beach and Arizona Feb. 14-16. 

Freshmen flourish in Oklahoma softball’s season opening win against Nevada

Despite several returning upperclassmen, the Oklahoma freshman stepped up big in the Sooners 9-3 victory over Nevada on Thursday.

Despite several returning upperclassmen, the Oklahoma freshman stepped up big in the Sooners 9-3 victory over Nevada at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on Thursday.

Three freshman combined for five hits and RBIs in the Sooners’ opener. True freshmen Kinzie Hansen and Rylie Boone recorded two hits apiece, and Hansen drove in four runs.

Senior pitcher Shannon Saile got off to a 1-0 start in the circle, pitching five innings and striking out eight. She allowed just three hits. Brook Vestal and Macy McAdoo each pitched an inning to round out the Sooners rotation.

The Sooners jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after Hansen singled to center, and tacked on two more in the third to extend their lead to 4-1. They blew it open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs again on two Hansen RBI’s.

Oklahoma is now 35-14 in season openers all-time.

The Sooners are back in action against Long Beach State at 12:30 p.m. CT on Friday.

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