Tag: Quincee Lilio

Sooners open series with 8-0 run-rule win over the Houston Cougars

The Oklahoma Sooners got off to a hot start in their series opener against the Houston Cougars, and Kelly Maxwell pitched another gem to lead Oklahoma to an 8-0 run-rule win in walk-off fashion. Taking on a Houston team that has the second-lowest …

The Oklahoma Sooners got off to a hot start in their series opener against the Houston Cougars, and [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] pitched another gem to lead Oklahoma to an 8-0 run-rule win in walk-off fashion.

Taking on a Houston team that has the second-lowest batting average and the highest ERA in Big 12 play, the Sooners struck early.

Maxwell recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first, and the Sooners’ offense quickly went to work in the bottom half of the inning.

[autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] walked to lead off the game and moved to third on a two-out single by [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag]. [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] put OU on the board first with a three-run home run. It was Torres’ eighth home run of the season and part of a 2-for-2 evening with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Oklahoma had opportunities with runners on in the second but were unable to capitalize. The Sooners put pressure on Houston again in the third with the bases loaded and nobody out. All they could muster was one run on a fielder’s choice from [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] to make it 4-0.

[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] led off the fourth with a walk and moved to third on Hansen’s base hit. Torres picked up her fourth RBI of the game on a grounder to the pitcher, scoring Jennings from third to make it 5-0. After a fielder’s choice put Hansen on third, the Sooners’ star catcher stole home to make it 6-0 and put the Sooners in complete control.

With the way Maxwell was pitching, Houston had little hope at that point. She threw five innings, allowing two hits and three walks, and recorded five strikeouts. Maxwell didn’t allow a runner past second base in a performance that helped the Sooners ace move to 14-1 on the season. The Sooners defense picked her up with double plays in the second and third innings.

Not satisfied, the Sooners continued to pour the offense on in the sixth inning. Kinzie Hansen led off with a single and advanced to third on Avery Hodge’s single to centerfield. [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag] walked to load the bases, and Sanders walked for the 34th time in 2024 to drive in a run and make it 7-0 Sooners. With two outs in the inning and the Cougars hoping to play all seven, [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] walked it off with a RBI single to secure the Sooners win.

After her 10-game hitting streak was snapped against Tulsa, Kinzie Hansen responded with a 3-for-4 night to help lead the way at the plate. Coleman, Jennings, Torres, and [autotag]Riley Ludlam[/autotag] each had two hits on the night. Along with Hansen, Jennings and Coleman also reached base three times, each earning a walk to go along with their two-hit nights.

With the victory, Oklahoma improved to 40-4 on the season and 16-3 in Big 12 play. They remain one game ahead of the Texas Longhorns and two games ahead of Oklahoma State in the Big 12 regular season title race.

The Sooners are back in action for game two of the series on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT. Oklahoma will close the series with Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Both games can be seen on ESPN+.

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Kelly Maxwell dazzles, Tiare Jennings hits two home runs in Sooners win over Texas Tech

The Oklahoma Sooners got a fantastic outing from Kelly Maxwell and Tiare Jennings launched two home runs as the Sooners beat Texas Tech 14-0

The No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. OU took the first of three games 14-0.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] threw six innings, striking out 10, allowing two hits and four walks to move to 8-0 on the season, and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] led the way with two home runs and six RBIs.

Oklahoma got the scoring going in the top of the first. After [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] stole second, Jennings brought her home on an RBI double to put Oklahoma up 1-0.

In the second inning, [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] hit her seventh home run of the season to put Oklahoma up 2-0.

In the third innings, the Sooners put up three runs on a pair of walks from [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] and the first of Jennings’ two home runs to give the Sooners a commanding 5-0 lead.

Oklahoma added another run in the fourth to make it 6-0.

Maxwell cruised throughout the game until running into a bit of trouble in the sixth inning. She allowed a leadoff walk, then hit the next Texas Tech batter before issuing another walk to load the bases. The veteran star then showed incredible poise, striking out the next three Red Raider hitters to keep the game scoreless through six.

Then in the top of the seventh, the Sooners lineup put an exclamation point on the evening with an eight-run inning to leave no doubt.

Alyssa Brito led off the inning with a single and then Tiare Jennings launched her second home run of the game to put OU up 8-0. [autotag]Riley Ludlam[/autotag] walked and then with one out, so did Alynah Torres. Singles by [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] and a [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] fielder’s choice tacked on three more runs before [autotag]Maya Bland[/autotag] doubled to bring in two more and make the score 13-0. Jennings and Ludlam walked to load the bases for [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag] who also walked to score Bland and make it 14-0 Oklahoma.

[autotag]Peytn Monticelli[/autotag] came in to pitch a scoreless seventh, striking out two and hitting a batter to close out the game.

The Sooners moved to 25-1 on the season and 4-0 in Big 12 play.

Tiare Jennings led the way at the plate with a 3-for-3 day with two home runs, six RBIs, a double, and two walks. She retook the team RBI lead and now sits with nine home runs and 31 RBIs on the season. Jennings’ batting average is now up to .423.

Cydney Sanders, who had been red hot in the month of March, didn’t record a hit in the game, but walked four times had an RBI and scored a run. Jayda Coleman was 2-for-4 and reached base on a walk.

Over her last three starts, Kelly Maxwell is 3-0 and hasn’t allowed a run while recording 25 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched.

It was a strong performance to set the stage for the weekend on a cool night in Lubbock. The Sooners will take the field Saturday at 1 p.m. CT against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

More: How to watch the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech

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Tiare Jennings taking over at shortstop for the Oklahoma Sooners

Meeting with the media Monday, Patty Gasso revealed that Tiare Jennings will be the Sooners new shortstop in 2024.

She’s had a remarkable run at second base during her career with the Oklahoma Sooners, but [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] has found a new home.

Meeting with the media on Monday ahead of this week’s season opener in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] revealed that her All-American second baseman will be sliding over to shortstop for 2024.

Replacing [autotag]Grace Lyons[/autotag], the game’s best defender for the last several seasons, is no small task. Though she’s been mostly known for her work at the plate, Jennings has been phenomenal at second base during Oklahoma’s three consecutive national championship runs.

Jennings has a career fielding percentage of .982 after posting a career-high .992 in 2023, a season in which she had just one error. She’s been as steady as they come at second base while combining with Lyons to form a deadly double-play duo the last several seasons.

While we have an answer for shortstop, the question moves to who will take over at second base. Gasso plans to platoon [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag], [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag], and [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] at that spot for the time being.

Hodge has made her mark as a pinch runner during her time with the Sooners, flashing her speed to put pressure on opposing defenses. Lilio has been a reliable bench piece for the Sooners, hitting .275 with a home run and nine RBIs in 40 plate appearances in 2023. Torres was the Sooners’ everyday right fielder in 2023 and hit .350 with two home runs and 23 RBIs last year. She has experience playing in the infield from her time at Arizona State and has a career fielding percentage of .944.

The Oklahoma Sooners will begin their title defense this weekend with a series in Puerto Vallarta vs. Utah Valley, No. 9/11 Duke, No. 10/7 Washington, and Long Beach State.

Oklahoma enters the season riding a 53-game winning streak.

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Nicole May shines, Alynah Torres hits grand slam in Sooners 8-0 win over SDSU

Alynah Torres hit her first home run of the season and Nicole May extended her scoreless innings streak in the Sooners 8-0 win over SDSU.

[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+.

Alex Storako’s no-hitter, Kinzie Hansen’s homers power Oklahoma to 18-0 win over No. 17 Kentucky

After being named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after her performance against UCLA with another dominant performance over Kentucky.

After an incredible outing to beat the UCLA Bruins to close out the Mary Nutter Classic in California, the Oklahoma Sooners put together an encore performance Friday evening against No. 17 Kentucky.

After beating UIC 5-0 in the first game of their Friday double-header, the Oklahoma Sooners were once again dominant over a ranked opponent, beating the Wildcats 18-0 at Marita Hynes Field.

[autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] got the start in the circle and was flawless, throwing five innings and striking out five for the no-hitter. Her lone blemish in the win was a hit batter with two outs in the first inning. She didn’t allow another base runner over the final 4.1 innings pitched to move to 5-0 and lower her ERA to 0.27 on the season.

Not to be overshadowed by another dominant outing for Storako, the Sooners’ bats had another huge outing.

As they’ve done a lot this year, Oklahoma went to work early, putting the pressure on in the first inning.

[autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] led off the game with a double before [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] drove her in for the 1-0 lead. After moving to third on a [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] ground out, and [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] singled and stole second, true freshman Jocelyn Erickson came up with a pair of runners in scoring position and just one out.

She did what she’s been doing all year and added to the lead with a two-run single to make it 3-0 OU.

Hansen, who had a huge debut weekend in the Mary Nutter Classic a week ago, kept her offensive outburst going with a grand slam in the second inning to put the Sooners up 4-0.

It was her third home run of the season and first of two in the game.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Oklahoma Sooners erupted for 10 runs, kickstarted by Jayda Coleman’s fourth home run of the season. It was a solo shot to put the Sooners up 8-0. But they weren’t satisfied there.

With two on and one out, [autotag]Sophia Nugent[/autotag] belted a three-run home run for her third home run of the season. Arizona State transfer [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] and [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag] followed Nugent’s blast with home runs of their own to go back-to-back-to-back.

Jordy Bahl walked to drive in a run, and Haley Lee brought in Rylie Boone from third on a fielder’s choice to make it 15-0. Then Kinzie Hansen came to the plate again and bashed a three-run home run for her fourth homer of the year. Hansen’s played in just seven games this season and has four home runs and 16 RBIs.

The Sooners hit five home runs in the 10-run inning to put away yet another top 25 opponent.

Oklahoma was pretty much flawless from the circle and at the plate. In Alex Storako’s last two starts, both against ranked teams, the Sooners have outscored their opponents 32-0.

Oklahoma is now 15-1 on the season and has been absolutely dominant since losing to Baylor nearly two weeks ago.

They’ll face Kentucky once again at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday at Marita Hynes Feld. Their second matchup with UIC will follow Oklahoma-UCLA.

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Oklahoma Sooners stay hot in win over Loyola Marymount

Oklahoma moved to 12-1 on the season with their 10-1 win over Loyola Marymount in the Mary Nutter Classic.

As they’ve done a lot this year, the Oklahoma Sooners jumped on Loyola Marymount early and cruised to a 10-1 victory behind a strong start from true freshman [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag] in the circle.

[autotag]Grace Lyons[/autotag] got things going at the plate with a single out of the second spot in the order. She moved over to third on [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag]’ single to left. [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] then doubled to score Lyons, and Jennings scored on [autotag]Jocelyn Erickson[/autotag]’s fielder’s choice. [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] continued her strong start to the season with another RBI when she drove in Lee from third.

[autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] singled to lead off the second and scored on Rylie Boone’s double to right. Jayda Coleman then hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center to give the Sooners a 6-0 lead.

With two outs in the inning, [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] hit her first career triple to set up Erickson with another RBI opportunity to make it 7-0 through two innings.

Oklahoma got three more in the third when [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag] cleared the bases with an RBI triple.

[autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag] worked around a double in the first, recording two strikeouts. She allowed just three baserunners through four innings before running into a bit of trouble in the fifth. After loading the bases, [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] came in to close out the win. Loyola Marymount was able to pick up one run in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all they could muster in the 10-1 loss to Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners moved to 12-1 with the win, setting up a showdown between the top two teams in the country when they face UCLA on Sunday.

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