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Oklahoma Softball vs. Iowa State: How to watch, weekend preview, key players, schedule,

The Oklahoma Sooners open the 2023 Big 12 calendar on the road this weekend with a three-game series against Iowa State.

The Sooners are in the midst of a 19-game winning streak and is the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation. The Cyclones are 11-14 on the season and currently hold the worst record in the Big 12 entering conference play.

As Oklahoma travels to Ames, their looking to continue their Big 12 dominance against an overmatched Cyclones squad.

Each of the three games this weekend in Ames can be viewed on ESPN+.

Weekend Schedule

Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings (23) is greeted at home by teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Auburn Tigers at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, March 18, 2023. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Game 1: Friday, March 24, 4 pm CT

Game 2: Saturday, March 25, 1 pm CT

Game 3: Saturday, March 25, Time TBD

With potential inclement weather rolling through the midwest, it was decided that Sunday’s finale would be moved up to Saturday.

Sooners Players to Watch

Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings (23) scores a run as Jayda Coleman (24) celebrates in the second inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Monday, March 13, 2023. Oklahoma won 8-0 in five innings. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

  • [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], CF: .507 batting average with 7 home runs, 23 RBIs, .958 slugging percentage, .639 on-base percentage, and 9 stolen bases.

  • [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], 2B: .453 batting average with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .787 slugging percentage.

  • [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag], UTIL: .447 batting average with 7 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .895 slugging percentage.

  • [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], C: .380 batting average with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .800 slugging percentage.

  • [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag], UTIL: .423 batting average with 5 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .761 slugging percentage.

  • [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], P: 8-0, 0.14 ERA, 50 innings pitched and 78 strikeouts, opponent’s batting average of .128.

  • [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag], P: 10-0, 0.94 ERA, 44.2 innings pitched and 67 strikeouts, opponent’s batting average of .146.

  • [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag], P: 7-1, 1.81 ERA, 54 innings pitched and 69 strikeouts, opponent’s batting average of .185.

Cyclones Players to Watch

Iowa State Cyclones’ softball team celebrates after winning 5-4 over Iowa in the Cy-Hawk softball at Cyclone Sports Complex, April 26, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

  • Mikayla Ramos, C: .316 batting average with 3 home runs, 16 RBIs, and a .487 slugging percentage.

  • Carli Spelhaug, UTIL: .238 batting average with 4 home runs, 9 RBIs, and a .540 slugging percentage.

  • Karlie Charles, P: 3-1, 2.31 ERA, 33 innings pitched and 22 strikeouts, opponents batting average of .269.

  • Saya Swain, P: 3-4, 3.04 ERA, 46 innings pitched and 63 strikeouts, opponents batting average of .192.

Behind the Numbers

Oklahoma’s Jayda Coleman (24) and coach Patty Gasso laugh between innings during a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Auburn Tigers at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, March 18, 2023. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

  • Oklahoma holds a 91-28 all-time record vs. Iowa State and is 40-8 in Ames in the history of the matchup.

  • Oklahoma has won 44 straight against Iowa State dating back to April 22, 2006.

  • Oklahoma leads the nation in batting average at .399 and is third in team earned run average at 1.02. Iowa State’s team batting average of .240 ranks No. 220, while their team ERA of 3.58 is No. 155 in the nation.

  • Iowa State has just two qualified batters hitting over .300 on the season. The Oklahoma Sooners have eight.

Prediction

Oklahoma’s Kinzie Hansen (9) celebrates after hitting a home run in the first inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Auburn Tigers at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, March 18, 2023. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

With the seasons Oklahoma and Iowa State are having, it seems unlikely the Cyclones would be able to steal a game against the Sooners. Oklahoma’s 44-game win streak grows to 47 in a weekend where the pitching staff continues to confound opposing hitters, and the Sooners lineup continues to mash the ball.

Sooners pick up the three-game sweep with a pair of run-rule victories.

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Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire