OU softball shuts out Loyola Marymount, pushes win streak to 67 in Mary Nutter finale

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — After a lackluster offensive performance last weekend in Lake Charles, Louisiana, OU softball coach Patty Gasso challenged her team going into the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

The Sooners’ offense came through, finishing the event with a pair of run-rule victories — 8-0 over Seattle in six innings in the first game Sunday followed by a 9-0 win over Loyola Marymount in the finale.

“I was really proud of our approach,” Gasso said of the Sooners’ 5-0 weekend. “Pitchers were phenomenal this weekend, some people came out of a little bit of a slump, Jayda (Coleman) walked away feeling good which was important, Alynah (Torres) had a good strong ball over the fence today, (Rylie) Boone was spectacular.

“So I liked what we walked away with. I think we got better. Much better response than we had last week.”

The Sooners outscored opponents 43-5 in the event.

“One of the best things about the Oklahoma Sooners the past few years is that we don’t back down from a challenge,” Sooners catcher and captain Kinzie Hansen said. “This is only our third weekend and being able to boss up is something that’s going to show up four months from now.”

The Sooners extended their NCAA-record winning streak to 67 and improved to 14-0 this season.

Now, OU will head home where they will open their new home, Love’s Field, with a doubleheader Friday.

Here are three more takeaways on the Sooners’ Sunday wins and their overall performance in Southern California:

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Jayda Coleman’s defense shines bright

Coleman’s bat might’ve been relatively quiet for much of the first part of the season, but her defense has been spectacular.

Coleman showed it off again Sunday, making a pair of spectacular defensive plays.

In the second inning of the win over Seattle, the Redhawks challenged Coleman on Taylor Fitch’s hit into the right-center field gap.

But the OU centerfielder quickly got the ball in to second, throwing out Fitch comfortably.

In the fourth, Coleman made a full-extension diving catch in that same right-center field gap to end the inning.

“You should not only scout our pitchers, but you should scout our defense a little bit, especially her,” Gasso said. “They hope for that. Jayda dares you. As soon as the ball’s hit, I’m like, ‘Here we go.’ You dare to round that bag, she’s ready for you.”

“Sometimes when you feel like your offense isn’t on, you’ve got to be able to come through on defense,” Coleman added. “I was hoping I was going to make those plays out there. I was hoping I was going to have an opportunity to do something today because I wasn’t feeling my offense today, but I’m glad I was able to swoop in and get those balls.”

After going 0 for 3 at the plate against Seattle, Coleman got the scoring going in the second game with a line drive leadoff homer in the second inning.

Coleman wasn’t the only bright spot for the Sooners defensively

The play before Coleman’s diving catch, Tiare Jennings cut down Mikee Morris at the plate as Morris tried to score from first on a single.

“It might be a little crazy but I think defense is the best part of our game,” Hansen said. “People might be like, ‘No way, we love to watch you hit,’ but defense wins championships. Without those plays and without those momentum-changers, it’d be a completely different ballgame.”

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Freshmen continue to shine bright

Playing not far from her hometown, Sooners freshman Ella Parker came through in a big way Sunday.

In the opener against Seattle, Parker hit a pair of home runs, hitting the first one to the opposite field and pulling the second.

They were her second and third home runs of the season.

Parker nearly got another in the second game, instead settling for a double in her first at bat.

Parker and fellow freshman Kasidi Pickering went a combined 15 for 27 with 10 runs and 10 RBIs in the event.

“History continues,” Hansen said. “Those two freshmen are definitely going to leave a mark.”

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Nicole May, rest of OU’s pitchers finish strong

Nicole May didn’t get off to the greatest of starts Sunday.

A walk followed by an uncharacteristic error by Avery Hodge put the Sooners behind the eight-ball early.

But May was fantastic from there, retiring the next 12 batters — striking out the side in the fourth — before handing the game to Kelly Maxwell.

“Sometimes I think a pitcher comes out and wants to feel things, and once they get it down, they kind of can’t be stopped,” Gasso said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball shuts out Loyola Marymount in Mary Nutter Classic finale