Maxwell, Jennings & Torres: Sooners win 8-1 over Baylor - 8,798
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 6:28 am
In front of 8,798 fans in the Hall of Fame Stadium in OKC, the Sooners won over the Baylor Bears 8-1 with a big 5th inning when the Sooners scored 7 runs. The Sooners that helped nail down the victory were Kelly Maxwell (Winning pitcher), Tiare Jennings (2B #59 - 3-run HR) and Alynah Torres (Grand Slam HR).
Kelly Maxwell was, well, K-MAX last night. She limited the Bears to 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 run and picked up 4 Ks in 5.1 innings. I am sure she was happy to see those 7 runs scored in the bottom of the 5th from Oklahoma. I thought Maxwell threw well last night. The lone run scored against her was aided by her own wild pitch that bounced in front of the plate that Ludlam tried to block but it got passed her. My quick review shows that Maxwell only went to 3 balls to 3 hitters last night. Strikes are a pitchers friend. When Baylor scored in the 4th inning, unusual things happened. A 4-pitch walk, a stolen base on a confusing strike call that might have been ball 4, a wild pitch to move the runner to 3rd and then a single. It is a very good thing for Maxwell to NOW have a good memory of pitching in OKC to remember instead of the previous memories.
Paytn Monticelli relieved Maxwell in the top of the 6th with 5 outs to go in the game. In her first time in the circle in OKC (Every pitcher's dream, right?) She allowed one hit and allowed no runs. Monticelli throws strikes as well. But Baylor did hit a couple screamers for line drive right at Jennings (for a DP) and Torres for outs. I like "Monti", but something off-speed would really help.
On offense, the Sooners got a run in the second with the help of Baylor error. With two outs, and Sanders (single) on 1B, Boone hit a slow roller past the pitcher to 2B, Boone clearly beat the ball to first, but the throw by Baylor skipped off the glove of the first base player and bounded out to short RF in foul territory. Sanders got on her horse and easily scored with Boone sliding into third base on the play.
In the bottom of the third, Tiare Jennings lined a ball off the LF fence barely in fair territory for a lead-off double. The 59th double of her career to move into first place in career doubles by a Sooner as she moved past Sydney Romero who had 58. T--R--A!.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Sooners put the game away. Coleman walked on a 3-2 count to lead off the inning. Once again, Jennings hit a 2-run HR to RC in OKC to quickly make the score 3-1. It was Tiare's 84th HR of her career. After a pop out by Brito, Ella Parker singled up the middle and Kasidi Pickering singled down the line into LF to move Parker to 2B. Coach Glenn Moore went to the circle for Baylor and lifted RyLee Crandall and brought in Aliyah Binford (her change up is deadly at times). Sanders walked in a 9-pitch at bat showing that change. that loaded the bases. Ludlam looked at four straight balls to pick up an RBI as Parker 'walked' home from 3rd. (Side note: that was the 8th straight ball thrown to Ludlam by Baylor as she held the bat with 6 fingers and 2 thumbs. Sometimes you shake you head at what occurs.) Coach Gasso then pinch hit for Avery Hodge with Alynah Torres. Torres took a mighty swing at a change up on the third pitch from Binford and got nothing but air. After talking to her self, and a ball on the next pitch, Torres found the change-up and got every bit of it for a Grand Slam to LF for a 8-1 lead for the Sooners. That is 3 HRs in her last 4 at bats for Torres. With only one out, Coach Moore went to the circle again and brought in Kaci West to pitch. Boone doubled to LC complete with a nice 'sit-up' slide complete with air-guitar chords to complete the at-bat. Boone does things with a bit of flair. Coleman walked on four pitches and Jennings followed with a walk on five pitches. With 1-out and the bases loaded and Oklahoma needing 1-run to send everyone home with a run-rule win, Baylor got out of the bases loaded jam. Coach Moore brought the outfield and infield in to cut off the shallow liner or to make a play at the plate on a single. Brito hit a shallow liner right at the RF for out #2. Parker then grounded out for out #3.
If you are Sooner fan that is worried about runners LOB and situations like this, don't be. Oklahoma is hitting .400 with runners in scoring position and .387 with two outs with those runners.
That was pretty much the game. Another situation that happened was in the 4th. With two outs and Hodge on 1st base. Boone bunted perfectly in front of the plate. As the Baylor catcher decided to hold the ball as Boone was safe by a mile, Baylor left 3B uncovered. Hodge never broke stride and went full out for third base. Alertly, the Baylor LF, Emily Hott, ran at full speed to cover 3B just in time and caught a strike from the catcher, Collazos, and made a nice tag on Hodge's arm before Hodge touched the bag. Head's up play by Baylor after they messed up. I think Hodge was right to force the issue. Make Baylor make the unconventional play for the 3rd out. (I know, you never make the 3rd out at 3B and the score was 1-1 at the time. But Baylor had about a 5% chance to make that play. Maybe 10%.
Oklahoma was 11 for 27 for a .407 BA night with 7 walks and 2 Ks. OU had two doubles, and 2 HRs. Coleman was caught trying to steal second. Collazos can throw when she is not throwing "darts' back to the pitcher.
The two remaining games are now going to be played on Saturday. The Sunday game has been moved to a 5:30 game on Saturday. Fans will have to exit the stadium (Love's Field) and then re-enter the stadium between games. With the Big 12 Gymnastics meet at LNC and the Sooner baseball team playing at 3 PM, LNC's parking is going to be full. I hope all three events do not end at the same time cause the parking lot jam will be epic perhaps.
With a DH today, Nicole May will be one starter. I hope it is Kierston Deal as the other starter.
One other note, Hansen did participate in drills last night, at least some. She has a 'simpler' brace on but she looks like she could play perhaps on Saturday.
Sooners are 29-1, Boomer Sooner!
Kelly Maxwell was, well, K-MAX last night. She limited the Bears to 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 run and picked up 4 Ks in 5.1 innings. I am sure she was happy to see those 7 runs scored in the bottom of the 5th from Oklahoma. I thought Maxwell threw well last night. The lone run scored against her was aided by her own wild pitch that bounced in front of the plate that Ludlam tried to block but it got passed her. My quick review shows that Maxwell only went to 3 balls to 3 hitters last night. Strikes are a pitchers friend. When Baylor scored in the 4th inning, unusual things happened. A 4-pitch walk, a stolen base on a confusing strike call that might have been ball 4, a wild pitch to move the runner to 3rd and then a single. It is a very good thing for Maxwell to NOW have a good memory of pitching in OKC to remember instead of the previous memories.
Paytn Monticelli relieved Maxwell in the top of the 6th with 5 outs to go in the game. In her first time in the circle in OKC (Every pitcher's dream, right?) She allowed one hit and allowed no runs. Monticelli throws strikes as well. But Baylor did hit a couple screamers for line drive right at Jennings (for a DP) and Torres for outs. I like "Monti", but something off-speed would really help.
On offense, the Sooners got a run in the second with the help of Baylor error. With two outs, and Sanders (single) on 1B, Boone hit a slow roller past the pitcher to 2B, Boone clearly beat the ball to first, but the throw by Baylor skipped off the glove of the first base player and bounded out to short RF in foul territory. Sanders got on her horse and easily scored with Boone sliding into third base on the play.
In the bottom of the third, Tiare Jennings lined a ball off the LF fence barely in fair territory for a lead-off double. The 59th double of her career to move into first place in career doubles by a Sooner as she moved past Sydney Romero who had 58. T--R--A!.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Sooners put the game away. Coleman walked on a 3-2 count to lead off the inning. Once again, Jennings hit a 2-run HR to RC in OKC to quickly make the score 3-1. It was Tiare's 84th HR of her career. After a pop out by Brito, Ella Parker singled up the middle and Kasidi Pickering singled down the line into LF to move Parker to 2B. Coach Glenn Moore went to the circle for Baylor and lifted RyLee Crandall and brought in Aliyah Binford (her change up is deadly at times). Sanders walked in a 9-pitch at bat showing that change. that loaded the bases. Ludlam looked at four straight balls to pick up an RBI as Parker 'walked' home from 3rd. (Side note: that was the 8th straight ball thrown to Ludlam by Baylor as she held the bat with 6 fingers and 2 thumbs. Sometimes you shake you head at what occurs.) Coach Gasso then pinch hit for Avery Hodge with Alynah Torres. Torres took a mighty swing at a change up on the third pitch from Binford and got nothing but air. After talking to her self, and a ball on the next pitch, Torres found the change-up and got every bit of it for a Grand Slam to LF for a 8-1 lead for the Sooners. That is 3 HRs in her last 4 at bats for Torres. With only one out, Coach Moore went to the circle again and brought in Kaci West to pitch. Boone doubled to LC complete with a nice 'sit-up' slide complete with air-guitar chords to complete the at-bat. Boone does things with a bit of flair. Coleman walked on four pitches and Jennings followed with a walk on five pitches. With 1-out and the bases loaded and Oklahoma needing 1-run to send everyone home with a run-rule win, Baylor got out of the bases loaded jam. Coach Moore brought the outfield and infield in to cut off the shallow liner or to make a play at the plate on a single. Brito hit a shallow liner right at the RF for out #2. Parker then grounded out for out #3.
If you are Sooner fan that is worried about runners LOB and situations like this, don't be. Oklahoma is hitting .400 with runners in scoring position and .387 with two outs with those runners.
That was pretty much the game. Another situation that happened was in the 4th. With two outs and Hodge on 1st base. Boone bunted perfectly in front of the plate. As the Baylor catcher decided to hold the ball as Boone was safe by a mile, Baylor left 3B uncovered. Hodge never broke stride and went full out for third base. Alertly, the Baylor LF, Emily Hott, ran at full speed to cover 3B just in time and caught a strike from the catcher, Collazos, and made a nice tag on Hodge's arm before Hodge touched the bag. Head's up play by Baylor after they messed up. I think Hodge was right to force the issue. Make Baylor make the unconventional play for the 3rd out. (I know, you never make the 3rd out at 3B and the score was 1-1 at the time. But Baylor had about a 5% chance to make that play. Maybe 10%.
Oklahoma was 11 for 27 for a .407 BA night with 7 walks and 2 Ks. OU had two doubles, and 2 HRs. Coleman was caught trying to steal second. Collazos can throw when she is not throwing "darts' back to the pitcher.
The two remaining games are now going to be played on Saturday. The Sunday game has been moved to a 5:30 game on Saturday. Fans will have to exit the stadium (Love's Field) and then re-enter the stadium between games. With the Big 12 Gymnastics meet at LNC and the Sooner baseball team playing at 3 PM, LNC's parking is going to be full. I hope all three events do not end at the same time cause the parking lot jam will be epic perhaps.
With a DH today, Nicole May will be one starter. I hope it is Kierston Deal as the other starter.
One other note, Hansen did participate in drills last night, at least some. She has a 'simpler' brace on but she looks like she could play perhaps on Saturday.
Sooners are 29-1, Boomer Sooner!