No. 1 Oklahoma softball rolls Morgan State 19-0 in NCAA Tournament opener

No. 1 Oklahoma softball began their 2021 NCAA Tournament run on Friday night hosting the Morgan State Bears in the first game of the Norman Regional.

The Sooners began the postseason a lot like the way they played the majority of the regular season: overwhelming their opponent from the jump. Patty Gasso’s team absolutely rolled to a 19-0 run-rule win in five innings in a game that was never close.

Senior Giselle Juarez was given the start in the circle and was highly effective and efficient working 3 1/3 scoreless innings allowing just one hit and striking out six on just 42 pitches. Sophomore Olivia Rains and freshman Nicole May would team up to record the final five outs to finish the job.

Oklahoma would get things started scoring seven runs in the first on an RBI single by catcher Kinzie Hansen, an RBI bunt by shortstop Grace Lyons that plated two after a throwing error, a two-run home run by center fielder Jayda Coleman, a run in on a fielders choice off the bat of right fielder Nicole Mendes and a run-scoring double by second baseman Tiare Jennings.

The Sooners would then put up six more runs the following frame on RBI doubles from first baseman Taylon Snow and Hansen along with a grand slam from Mendes. Oklahoma held a 13-0 lead after two innings.

They would keep the good times rolling in the third with six more runners crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rylie Boone, an RBI double by Grace Green and two-run home runs from both Mendes (her second of the night) and designated player Jocelyn Alo – her 28th home run of the season. Mendes’ seven RBIs on Friday night were a program record for a postseason game.

Amazingly, the Sooners would go scoreless in the fourth inning but with the run-rule well in effect, they were able to finish the job in five innings keeping Morgan State off the board in the fourth and fifth frames for the 19-0 win.

This was as dominant of a start as you could hope for to begin a postseason run for Gasso’s squad, thoroughly controlling the game in all facets.

The win moves Oklahoma to 46-2 on the year and gets themselves on the right foot to punching a Super Regionals ticket for the 11th straight year. Next up will be a battle with Wichita State tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. CT back at Marita Hynes Field looking to move on to Sunday’s regional final.