The Oklahoma Sooners, the nation’s top-ranked softball team, gear up for a crucial Big 12 series this weekend as they welcome the #19/22 Baylor Bears to Norman. This three-game series, kicks off today at the neutral site of Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, promises a battle between two teams with contrasting styles and a significant history.
Sooner Juggernaut Aims for Continued Dominance:
The Sooners, under the leadership of legendary coach Patty Gasso, are a force to be reckoned with. They boast a near-unblemished record, having lost only one game all season. Their offense is explosive, averaging over 9 runs per game, led by the power hitting of Alyssa Brito (.436) and Tiare Jennings (.418). In the circle, the Sooners have a deep pitching staff, with pitchers like Kelly Maxwell (1.31) and Nicole May (1.54) anchoring the top defense in the Big 12.
Baylor Bears Look to Upset the Throne:
The Baylor Bears enter the series with a less impressive record but cannot be overlooked. Despite their conference struggles, they were the onlt team to beat the Sooners in 2023. The Bears are a well-coached team under Glenn Moore, known for their aggressive baserunning and opportunistic offense. Juniors Shaylon Govan and Taylor Strain lead the way offensively, while sophomore pitcher RyLee Crandall will be key in containing the Sooner attack.
Storylines to Watch:
- Revenge Narrative: The Sooners will be alert and looking avenge their loss to Baylor last season as well maintain their undefeated conference record.
- Pitching Matchup: The pitching matchup between Kelly Maxwell or Nicole May for the Sooners and RyLee Crandall for Baylor will be a key factor in determining the outcome of the series.
- Can Baylor’s Upset Magic Strike Again?: The Bears will try to repeat their 2023 feat and pull off another upset against the top-ranked Sooners.
- Home Field Advantage: The Sooners will have the home crowd advantage for games two and three, which could be a significant factor.
Series Prediction:
The Sooners are the clear favorites on paper. However, the Bears have shown they can compete with the best. Here’s a possible series outcome:
- Oklahoma sweeps the series (3-0): The Sooners’ potent offense and deep pitching prove too much for Baylor to handle.
- Oklahoma wins the series (2-1): The Bears steal a game in Oklahoma City but ultimately fall short in Norman.
Notes
- First pitch on Friday in Oklahoma City is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT as the Sooners (28-1, 6-0 Big 12) put their unbeaten Big 12 record to the test against Baylor (17-8, 1-5 Big 12). Games two and three Saturday and Sunday at Love’s Field will start at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and 1560 AM/103.3 FM The Franchise 2 with Friday and Saturday’s tilts also airing on 107.7 FM The Franchise.
- Oklahoma owns a 73-14 record against Baylor in the all-time series with a 65-11 mark under Patty Gasso. The Sooners are 28-7 in Norman vs. Baylor and 19-1 on neutral fields. The Bears handed OU its lone loss last season, defeating the Sooners 4-3 in Waco on February 19, 2023.
- OU has swept each of its first two conference series, going 3-0 against Iowa State at home and Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Chasing Milestones
Tiare Jennings…………………….58 doubles ………………………… Needs 1 to break Sydney Romero’s (58) program record
Tiare Jennings…………………….582 total bases………………….. Needs 1 to tie Lauren Chamberlain (583) for second on OU’s all-time list
Jayda Coleman ……………………53 stolen bases ……………………Needs 2 to tie Martinez & Clifton (55) for eighth on OU’s all-time list
Tiare Jennings………………….. 273 hits……………………………… Needs 3 to tie Christy Ring (276) for sixth on OU’s all-time list
Kinzie Hansen……………………….194 RBIs ………………………………..Needs 3 to tie Shay Knighten (197) for ninth on OU’s all-time list
Jayda Coleman ………………… 242 hits……………………………… Needs 7 to tie Samantha Ricketts (249) for 10th on OU’s all-time list
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland