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NORMAN — OU softball recorded its second run-rule victory against Kentucky in as many days.
The Sooners’ 9-1 win Friday afternoon looked a lot like its 10-2 win Thursday night. The Wildcats took an early lead in both games, then it was all Sooners.
Freshman Kendall Wells hit her nation-leading 29th home run. Freshman Lexi McDaniel drove in five runs. Miali Guachino kept the Cats at bay.
OU (37-3, 10-1 SEC) will go for the series sweep at 11 a.m. Saturday at Love’s Field.
Here are more takeaways from the game:
More: OU softball freshmen Kai Minor, Kendall Wells 'poised in the box' in rout of Kentucky
Freshman first baseman Lexi McDaniel drew a bases loaded walk, blooped a two-run single and smashed a two-run home run in a huge, five-RBI day.
McDaniel upped her batting average to .478, which is tied with Kai Minor, another freshman, for the team high.
The Sooners’ freshmen class, led by Kendall Wells, has passed every test.
"That they're ready,” Gasso said of what they’ve shown. “That they understand the game. That they're willing to learn. That they compete like upperclassmen. It's very easy. It's become very easy for them.”
More: OU softball coach Jennifer Rocha returns to Love's Field after cancer battle
The Ole Miss transfer improved to 11-0, limiting Kentucky to one run on three hits and no walks in four innings pitched.
"I was feeling great, honestly,” Guachino said. “Just trying to come in and get outs for the team so they can do what they do, hit and score a lot of runs. Just changing speeds was working today, keeping them off balance so they didn't know what was coming next.”
Freshman Allyssa Parker pitched a scoreless fifth inning to end the game.
More: Get ready for epic college softball HR race with OU's Kendall Wells, UCLA's Megan Grant
OU scored two runs in the first inning and four in the second. All six runs came with two outs.
The Sooners scored seven two-out runs Thursday night.
“Two-strike hitting, fouling things off, turning it into a walk — it's really an elite level of hitters right now,” Gasso said.
OU was 4-of-8 with two outs. Kentucky was 0-of-5.
Game 2 of the series was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, but it was moved up to 1 p.m. with thunderstorms in the forecast.
Time change and all, 3,835 fans packed Love’s Field.
“It was a great crowd, and they were lively and excitable … the fanbase and the support is just off the charts,” Gasso said. “There’s no place like this. We have not been anywhere like this and we won’t.”
The Sooners are 17-0 at home.
More: Former OU softball HR queen Lauren Chamberlain thinks with Kendall Wells 'nobody's safe'
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball wins series vs Kentucky thanks to Lexi McDaniel's 5 RBIs
Continue reading...
The Sooners’ 9-1 win Friday afternoon looked a lot like its 10-2 win Thursday night. The Wildcats took an early lead in both games, then it was all Sooners.
Freshman Kendall Wells hit her nation-leading 29th home run. Freshman Lexi McDaniel drove in five runs. Miali Guachino kept the Cats at bay.
OU (37-3, 10-1 SEC) will go for the series sweep at 11 a.m. Saturday at Love’s Field.
Here are more takeaways from the game:
More: OU softball freshmen Kai Minor, Kendall Wells 'poised in the box' in rout of Kentucky
Lexi McDaniel drives in five
Freshman first baseman Lexi McDaniel drew a bases loaded walk, blooped a two-run single and smashed a two-run home run in a huge, five-RBI day.
McDaniel upped her batting average to .478, which is tied with Kai Minor, another freshman, for the team high.
The Sooners’ freshmen class, led by Kendall Wells, has passed every test.
"That they're ready,” Gasso said of what they’ve shown. “That they understand the game. That they're willing to learn. That they compete like upperclassmen. It's very easy. It's become very easy for them.”
More: OU softball coach Jennifer Rocha returns to Love's Field after cancer battle
Miali Guachino earns win
The Ole Miss transfer improved to 11-0, limiting Kentucky to one run on three hits and no walks in four innings pitched.
"I was feeling great, honestly,” Guachino said. “Just trying to come in and get outs for the team so they can do what they do, hit and score a lot of runs. Just changing speeds was working today, keeping them off balance so they didn't know what was coming next.”
Freshman Allyssa Parker pitched a scoreless fifth inning to end the game.
More: Get ready for epic college softball HR race with OU's Kendall Wells, UCLA's Megan Grant
OU clutches up
OU scored two runs in the first inning and four in the second. All six runs came with two outs.
The Sooners scored seven two-out runs Thursday night.
“Two-strike hitting, fouling things off, turning it into a walk — it's really an elite level of hitters right now,” Gasso said.
OU was 4-of-8 with two outs. Kentucky was 0-of-5.
Patty Gasso in awe of crowd
Game 2 of the series was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, but it was moved up to 1 p.m. with thunderstorms in the forecast.
Time change and all, 3,835 fans packed Love’s Field.
“It was a great crowd, and they were lively and excitable … the fanbase and the support is just off the charts,” Gasso said. “There’s no place like this. We have not been anywhere like this and we won’t.”
The Sooners are 17-0 at home.
More: Former OU softball HR queen Lauren Chamberlain thinks with Kendall Wells 'nobody's safe'
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball wins series vs Kentucky thanks to Lexi McDaniel's 5 RBIs
Continue reading...
