Behind Kiersten Deal, G3 & GG & Erickson, OU Wins to move to 5-0

[OUBeliever56A]

On a getaway Sunday, the Oklahoma Sooners sent a freshman to the circle and for her first career start. Kiersten Deal rewarded the selection as she pitched well as she limited San Jose State to a lone single, no runs and 2 walks as she posted 5 Ks in 4 innings to earn her first win of her career and her season. Congrats to Ms. Deal. She was in control throughout and only allowed one runner to reach 2nd base. Alex Storako pitched the 5th and she allowed no runs and completed the Sooners third shutout of the season. Storako did allow a single and a walk along with 1 K in her inning of pitching.

The Sooner offense did its' job with a few new starters in the lineup. The Sooners scored in 3 of the 4 innings that they batted today in the 5-inning run-rule victory 9-0.

Three straight singles by OU from Coleman, Jennings and Lee loaded the bases for Grace Lyons (G3). She drove everyone in for 3 RBIs as she drove a ball into RC that made it to the wall on a triple. [EDIT- Those first two sentences are wrong. I missed the 2 RBIs on my scorebook for Lee as I typed. Lee's single, the 3rd one drove in Coleman and Jennings. Lyons' triple drove in only 1 run, not 3 runs. EDIT] After a botched squeeze play for the first out of the bottom of the first, Brito grounded out to 3rd base before Erickson (playing 1B) grounded out to 2B. The Sooners were up 3-0 after one inning.

Quincee Lilio (playing LF) singled to open the bottom of the 2nd and moved to second after a walk to Sophia Nugent (3rd start as catcher). Boone (RF) hit into a fielder's choice 1-5 to force Lilio out at 3rd base for out #1. Coleman reached base as the two runners moved up on a slow grounder to the bag side of the second baseman for Coleman's second hit. Coleman lai down a perfect bunt for her first hit to open the top of the first. With the bases loaded, Jennings hit a little hopper out in front of the plate. The San Jose pitcher fielded the ball and flipped it to the catcher for the force out at home plate. The flip was a bit short and the catcher was unable to field the ball cleanly and everyone was safe. The ruling on the play was a FC with an RBI for Jennings which is a bit generous, IMO. It probably should have been an error on the pitcher. Pinch hitting for Lee, Grace Green (GG or G21) stepped into the batter's box for her first at bat of the season. Green presented a HR to her new husband, Brian Mead, as she hit the first Grand Slam for the Sooners in 2023 and the third HR of the season for the Sooners. Torres, Lons followed with a fly out to RF followed by Torres hitting in Brito's spot flying out to LF in foul territory. The Sooners lead 8-0 after two innings of play.

OU made several substitutes before the top of the 3rd. Hodge moved into SS for her first defensive action of the season. Coor moved into CF as Coleman moved to RF as Boone moved to the dugout. Torres stayed in the game and played 3B. In the bottom of the 3rd, Coor made her first defensive play of the season on a nice catch on a short looper to CF.

The bottom of the third opened with a line drive hit deep to RF for a solo HR by Jocelyn Erickson for her first career HR as a Sooner. 9-0. Lilio grounded out to 3B for out #1. Nugent struck out for the second out before Coor stepped in the box for her first at bat of the season. Coor grounded to SS for the final out as Coor made the play close with her speed down the line.

Before the top of the fourth, Bahl entered to play LF as Lilio moved to RF and Coleman move to the bench. In the bottom of the fourth, The first out of the 4th was made by Torres at 3B as she made a nice backhand grab on a ground ball and threw the batter out at 1B. Hodge made her first play on defense on a sharp hit ground ball to SS as Hodge cleanly made the play and threw out the runner for the final out of the inning.

Bahl reached base on an error by the 2B to open the bottom of the 4th. After a K by Sanders pinch hitting for Jennings, Bahl then moved to 2B on a wild pitch. Green grounded to 2B for the second out moving Bahl to 3B. Hodge stepped into the box for her first at bat of her career. She hit a slap ground ball to the 3B for a 5-3 out to end the inning.

In the top of the 5th, Coor made another strong defensive play in RC field on a deep ball by the last batter. It looked like Lilio had trouble tracking the ball and that it could be a hit to score two runs for San Jose. But Coor came on and ran down the fly ball close to the fence for the final out of the game.

It was a 9-0 win as OU had their first multi-HR game and their second run-rule victory of 2023.

The Sooners are 5-0 as they head home to Norman for a few days of practice before traveling to Waco for play next weekend in the Getterman Classic.

Boomer Sooner!