Sooners Sweep Through Bulldog Invitational

Game 1: Southern Louisiana 13-0 (5) (W)

The Sooners coming off a weekend sweep in Norman start the weekend against Southern Louisiana. The Sooners will likely have several different lineups through the weekend but especially because the absence of Grace Lyons who is out due to illness. Starting at SS in game 1 is Tiare Jennings and that brings Quincee Lilio to 2nd base. Sophia Nugent got another start in right field. The Sooner starting pitcher was Jordy Bahl in game 1. After working the first batter to a full count she got the strikeout and quickly ended the inning with 2 outs to the first baseman Erickson. The scorching streak Jayda Coleman has been on continued with a leadoff double her 6th of the season. The first pitch she saw Haley Lee deposited it into the construction site beyond the center field wall. After a bloop single to left by Brito an error on a fly ball from Hanson scores Brito. Jocelyn Erickson also swung at the first pitch and just touched the chalk on the left field line driving in Hanson. The Sooners score a total of 4 in the first and brought 8 to the plate.

The top of the 2nd was a quick inning for Bahl. Sooners continue swinging early as Lilio pops out on the first pitch, Coleman takes yet another walk. An incredible display of defense by the Lions 3rd baseman reaching over the wall to pull a would be foul ball from Jennings back for the 2nd out. Starting the weekend with two straight hits Lee hit a single. If you didn’t realize Nugent has power by now it’s on you. She hooked a 3 run home run inside the left field foul pole with an 0-2 count. Immediately following the HR Alyssa Brito hits a single and promptly stole second. She was sent home with a double by Hanson off the wall which brought the Sooners into run rule territory in just the 2nd inning.

After another quick inning and 2 strikeouts from Bahl, the Sooners started subbing in new players. Avery Hodge started with a slap single and was doubled home by Torres who also just entered the game. Taking her 17th walk of the season Coleman put 2 on for Jennings who smacked one off the wall scoring Torres. Haley Lee picked up her third hit of the day with a 2 RBI double. For the 7th time in her career Alyssa Brito had a 3 hit game knocking a double to right. After an uneventful top of the 4th the Sooners threaten but don’t score. A fantastic defensive play by Hodge at second started off the top of the 5th. Jordy Bahl must have heard people say she was having a down season as she spun a perfect game! She ended and started the game with strikeouts as she finished with 8 on the day. Her second perfect game of her career. 

Game 2: Mississippi State 7-0 (W)

The Bulldogs started true Freshman Josey Marron in the circle against the Sooners. A full count was worked by Jayda Coleman before singling up the middle to start the game. The Bulldogs saw the Sooners aggressive behavior in the first game and start the game with a steady diet of off speed pitches. Jennings struck out on a pitch in the dirt and Coleman advanced to second on a wild pitch. Finally staying back on an off speed, Lee hit a single to right where it was misplayed and allowed Coleman to score. Nugent caught one off the end off the bat but an incredible diving catch by the left fielder retired her. Nicole May got the start in the circle for the Sooners. She started the game off as one has come to expect from her, back to back strikeouts. 

The drop ball from Marron was working as she struck out Hansen and Boone. Sanders getting the start at 1st, walked and was doubled home by Lilio for a 2-0 Sooners lead. An error by the Bulldog first baseman allowed Lilio to score on a ball from Coleman. Drop ball got Jennings to strike out for the 2nd time. Working around a leadoff walk May shuts down the 2nd inning capped with her 3rd strikeout. Continuing to stay hot Haley Lee with the leadoff single in the 3rd. Sending her to the plate Brito attacked the first pitch for a stand up double with her 18th RBI on the season. Brito came home on a throwing error from the Bulldog left fielder to give the Sooners a 5-0 lead. Issuing only her 2nd walk of the game May stranded them for a scoreless 3rd inning. The Bulldogs entered a new pitcher in the 4th Reis Beuerlein to replace Marron. The Sooners waste a 2 on and no one out situation in the 4th.

After allowing the first hit of the game for the Bulldogs (advanced to 2nd on throwing error by Brito) May kept the Dawgs off the board and continued to be efficient. The Sooners go in order as they struggled to get anything going against Beuerlein since she entered. If you blinked you missed the Bulldogs half of the 5th, May set them down on just six pitches. Again Beuerlein set down the Sooners scoreless in the 6th. Keeping the Sooners at bay, and giving themselves a chance to get something going against May.   They threatened with 2 on and one out but a line drive right to Jennings at short and she whips it to Lilio to double off the runner and end the inning. A leadoff single by Erickson put a runner on for Brito who smashed a home run to left center for the first damage against Beuerlein. Brito had herself a night going 2 for 4 with a double and home run with 3 RBI. Nicole May finished the game with only 86 pitches. She moved to 6-0 on the season and kept her perfect ERA at 0.00. She surrendered only 2 hits, 3 walks and struck out 6. 

Game 3: Mississippi State 9-3 (W)

The Sooners kick off the weekend finale against the Bulldogs since the Sunday game was cancelled due to expected weather. Mississippi State started Aspen Wesley in the circle. The senior twirler came into the game 4-2 on the season. Jayda Coleman heard her uncle in the stands as has become customary for most the Sooner games. He can be heard yelling “Do not help her!” during nearly every Sooner at bat. Coleman drew a 4 pitch walk to start the game. Jennings followed with a single to left fighting off an inside pitch. After a pop up by Lee, Erickson reaches on an error by the second baseman loaded the bases with 1 out for Hansen. After an extended at bat Wesley got Hansen swinging for the second out. A tall task was met head on by Wesley inducing Boone to pop out and keeping the Sooners off the board despite the threat. 

Both starting pitchers started the game with a 4 pitch walk. Jordy Bahl getting the start for the Sooners following her perfect game on Friday. After a backpick stolen base, Bahl came back and struck out the next hitter for the first out. After nearly a fantastic catch by Lilio the ball falls out of her glove for a single and putting runners on the corners and one out. There is something about Erickson at first base when Bahl is in the circle, lots of easy pop ups to the freshman. A long at bat ends in a walk to load the bases for the Dawgs. Both teams with threats of them loaded in the first. After the first few hitters chased the adjustment was made by Mississippi State and Bahl fell behind in most counts. Finally rearing back, Bahl said hit it if you can and got the strikeout to end the threat.

The Sooners continue swinging early as Torres smacked the first pitch through the 5-6 hole for a leadoff single. A similar play to the bottom of the first the ball is just too far for the second baseman turned into a single for Brito. A third straight single for the Sooners by Bahl loaded the bases for Coleman. The 4th straight single brought home a pair to jump the Sooners out to a 2-0 lead. A wild pitch brings home another and the wheels seemingly started to fall off for the Bulldogs. Another single this time by Jennings keeps the train rolling for Lee. A 2 RBI double by Lee chased Wesley and Kenley Hawk entered for the Dawgs. A groundout by Erickson is the first out of the inning and a no man’s land ground ball from Hansen scored the 6th run of the inning. Alynah Torres continues to swing at the first pitch and doubled down the line to score Hansen. Alyssa Brito is on some kind of hot streak, hitting a 2 run home run in her second consecutive game. The avalanche continued with Bahl hitting a double and a hit by pitch for Coleman. The Sooners put up 9 runs in the second inning, sending 14 to the plate. 

There is something about a 9 spot that will energize you, Bahl worked a very quick bottom of the 2nd to send the Sooners to bat again. The top of the 3rd brought a new Bulldog pitcher in Grace Fagan. The bases were loaded again with Sooners, all of them walks sprinkled around two outs. Fagan escaped striking out Torres looking after a circle visit and some mechanics advice from the Bulldog pitching coach. The Sooners continue to try and get their bench involved in blowout games as several of the pinch hitters stay in the game on the defensive side. Back to back walks start the bottom of the third for MSST. Some struggle throwing strikes for Bahl forced her to throw a cookie and a single drove in a run for the Dawgs first run in their games against the Sooners. Another single loaded the bases and triggered the hook for Bahl. Alex Storako entered the game for her first appearance of the weekend. Rocko entered the game and pounded the zone, striking out looking Brownlee. Another single brings home the 2nd run with one out. Another backwards K for the second out of the inning. Check swing ground ball that Brito took care of ended the massive threat that plated 2 for MSST. 9-2 Sooners after 3.

The Sooners threatened but didn’t push any across in the 4th. I don’t often speak about umpiring but it is worth noting the strike zone from the home plate umpiring has been rather questionable and Rocha said something and got an official warning. The Sooners started the 5th with 2 runners and caused another pitching change. The Sooners waste the opportunity though and strand 2 more. Storako found her groove and a clean bottom of the 5th sent the Sooners to try and get one more to end it early. They threatened once again but 3 strike outs end the inning and ensure full 7 innings. Working around a 2 out double Storako pitched a scoreless 6th to send the game to the final frame. The Sooners waste a leadoff double by Nugent and don’t score again. Kiersten Deal entered for the Sooners to finish off the game for her first appearance of the weekend. The Freshman got two quick outs but allowed a solo home run to Paige Cook. Miscommunication on a fly ball between Nugent and Jennings caused the game to extend. A strikeout ended the game and sent the Sooners home with 3 wins on the weekend. 

The Sooners added a game on Monday to replace the cancelled one. They will host South Dakota State at 6:00 pm. If there is one thing the Sooners need to improve on it is not stranding runners on base. The Sooners left 15 runners on base in game 3 alone. They will not be able to waste so many opportunities come postseason and expect to dominate as they are accustomed to doing.