Oklahoma is off to a 2-0 start at the Mary Nutter Classic thanks to some clutch hitting and an outstanding pitching performance by freshman Olivia Rains. After dispatching Nebraska 10-2 in eight innings the Sooners were destined for a more drama filled game against another former conference opponent.
Junior Taylon Snow scored in the bottom of the first, on a Grace Green ground out to short, to give Oklahoma a 1-0 lead. Texas A&M pitcher Kendall Potts turned in a dominating performance after that by not allowing another Sooner run until the bottom of the seventh.
Rains was able to match Potts pitch-for-pitch, striking out a season high six batters and not allowing a run through five innings of work. She was relieved by Giselle “G” Juarez in the sixth. Juarez went the rest of the way, allowing a run in the seventh and only giving up two hits in two innings of work.
An RBI double from A&M’s Meagan Smith knotted the game up at 1-1 in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Grace Lyons took a 1-1 pitch to center field for an RBI walk-off double that scored Green.
Walk it off then, ππ―.
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) February 21, 2020
Day One @NutterClassic: βοΈ wins.#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/QOlvy3M3iP
The win was Oklahoma’s fourth in a row and puts the Sooners at 10-1 on the season. Another double feature awaits OU on Saturday as they are set to play Seattle University and then #2 Washington.
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland