Photo credit Ty Russell/OU Athletics
Oklahoma’s dominance over opponents doesn’t seem to be slowing down with conference play. On Thursday evening Lynnsie Elam homered twice and Tiare Jennings knocked in four RBI as the Sooners dominated their conference home opener.
From the circle Shannon Saile allowed just two hits and struck out eight Jayhawk batters to improve her season record to 8-0 as OU collected its 19th run-rule win, and 14th shutout, of the season. Saile worked four of the games five innings before giving way to Alanna Thiede who pitched a perfect fifth innings to secure the win.
All 14 of Oklahoma’s runs were scattered over just two innings. The Sooners shot out of the gate with an eight-run first inning that included home runs from Kinzie Hansen, Lynnsie Elam, and Tiare Jennings. All three long balls accounted for the eight runs in the frame with Hansen and Jennings bringing in three each and Elam knocking in two more.
After going scoreless in the second and third innings, Oklahoma struck for six more runs in the fourth inning. Half of those came off Elam’s bat as she blasted a three-run shot over the wall in left center field for her second of the night. Jocelyn Alo got the scoring started in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to center field. It was her NCAA best 22nd home run of the season.
Elam ended the night with a team-high 5 RBI with Jennings coming in just behind her at 4. Oklahoma’s 14 runs came off 14 hits and was their second highest scoring affair in conference play. The Sooners dropped 22 runs on Iowa State in Sunday’s series finale. OU swept the Cyclones 3-0 in Ames.
Game two of the Kansas series is set for Friday evening at 6:00.
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