OU vs. Kansas softball takeaways: Sooners run-rule Jayhawks, clinch share of Big 12 title

NORMAN — By the time OU super senior Grace Green stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning of Saturday’s game against Kansas, the outcome wasn’t in doubt.

But in the Sooners’ final at-bat of a 14-0, five-inning victory over the Jayhawks at Marita Hynes Field that gave the Sooners at least a share of the Big 12 title for an 11th consecutive time, Green delivered the highlight.

In her final regular-season home series with the Sooners, Green delivered a three-run home run to right to close OU’s scoring.

It was just Green’s 19th game of the season.

Just her second home run.

But it’s hard to argue that any homers the Sooners have hit this season meant more than Green’s blast.

“I think you just want it for her,” OU coach Patty Gasso said before choking up.

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Green, sitting next to Gasso, eventually put her hand on Gasso’s shoulder and Gasso continued after more than 30 seconds.

“Underappreciated, but the glue of this team,” Gasso said, still fighting back tears. “I know it, but I don’t know that a lot of other people know it, so I trust her. She’s the most team-oriented player I’ve ever had, and I appreciate that she stuck with this program.

“For me, watching her do it was almost like being her mom as well. You’ve just got to hold it in, be excited for her, but now that I’m sitting next to her, it’s flowing out.”

As Gasso finished her answer, Green embraced her coach with a bear hug.

Green started 61 games as a freshman in 2019, hitting .359 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs that season. She started all 24 games the next season.

But since, due to injuries and the emergence of other players, Green’s playing time has dwindled.

Her status on the team, though, has not.

That was evident from Gasso’s emotion, and it was evident with the mob that greeted Green at the plate, and her teammates’ reaction when Green was announced as the player of the game afterward.

All Green could think about in the moment was getting around the bases, though she had to slow up to keep from passing Sophia Nugent, whose single preceded Green’s homer.

“Going a little too hard, but I was running it out,” Green said. “If it didn’t go over, I was gonna be going. I was very excited. My family’s here and they haven’t been able to come a lot this year. So for them to see that was really big.”

Green had more than a dozen members of her family in attendance, including her parents, siblings, both grandmothers, plus her husband — former OU linebacker Bryan Mead.

The Sooners (44-1, 14-0 Big 12) have won 36 consecutive games.

Here are three other takeaways from the win.

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Nicole May, Kierston Deal combine for no-no

As the fifth inning started and freshman Kierston Deal took the circle, the chants began.

“Nicole, Nicole, Nicole,” the sold-out crowd at Marita Hynes Field repeated.

Finally, after a few moments, Sooners junior pitcher Nicole May peaked around the corner of the dugout into the stands — a broad smile across her face — taking a moment to soak in the scene before finally delivering on the curtain-call wave.

May was once again excellent, improving to 14-0 on the season with four hitless innings. She struck out four as her ERA dipped to 0.41.

Freshman Kierston Deal finished off the no-hitter with a 1-2-3 fifth.

It was the fourth no-hitter of the season for the Sooners and first since Jordy Bahl’s perfect game March 10 against Southeastern Louisiana.

Saturday’s was the Sooners’ 10th shutout in 14 conference games and eighth consecutive.

OU hasn’t given up a run in Big 12 play since April 2.

“They’re hungry,” Gasso said. “They’re waiting for their time. If you’re on this pitching staff, you’re probably throwing one game a weekend. That’s new to them and they want more, so they’re waiting and prepared. … Constantly in tune, ahead of the count, just very, very business-like.”

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Quick start

The Sooners’ offense was mostly methodical in jumping all over the Jayhawks (22-23, 4-10) from the jump.

OU had six singles in its first eight at-bats, building a 4-0 lead quickly.

Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings and Cydney Sanders started with back-to-back-to-back singles, with Sanders scoring the game’s first run.

The second time around, though, Coleman blasted a three-run homer to left to cap the scoring in the inning.

The homer was Coleman’s team-leading 13th of the season.

OU’s eight-run first was its highest scoring output in an inning since March 25 at Iowa State.

“I think we all agree as a group this was one of our best, cleanest, most complete games we’ve had in awhile,” Gasso said. “Their energy is infectious. They root for each other. It was just really a fun game to watch and be a part of.”

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Defense shines once again

The Sooners have shown once again in this series why they are the top fielding team in the nation.

In Friday’s opener, it was Rylie Boone’s diving catch in left field.

Saturday, the left side of the infield delivered the biggest gems.

In the second inning, third baseman Alyssa Brito pounded her fist into the infield dirt after her diving catch robbed Kansas’ Ashlyn Anderson of a hit.

An inning later, shortstop Grace Lyons went deep into the hole to stop Hailey Cripe’s hard bouncer and then made a strong throw to first to retire her.

The next inning, Brito went to her right to snag Olivia Bruno’s smash down the line. Brito’s throw arrived in plenty of time to retire Bruno.

“It’s becoming routine, and nothing about what they’re doing is routine,” Gasso said. “I think these are hard plays for Major League Baseball players or anybody else who’s an elite infielder. Brito’s play was just off the charts and Grace, you’re watching it and you’re like, ‘No way. No way, she’s going to beat it. This runner’s going to beat it.’ And she just gets it there every time.

“This defense — I’m in the game but sometimes I wish I was just watching it from the stands, because I think I’d see it in a different way than what I see it sitting in the dugout, but it is pretty amazing.”

May, whose no-hitter was preserved by those plays, said she saw it differently.

“She’s over there thinking she’s going to beat it and I’m over here thinking that she’s already out,” May said. “‘OK, awesome, next out.’ I’d be more surprised if she was safe.”

The Sooners have gone seven consecutive games without an error.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball tops Kansas to clinch share of Big 12 regular-season title