Kansas falls at No. 2 Oklahoma, 10-1
NORMAN, Okla. — Kansas softball concluded a three-game series against No. 2 Oklahoma with a 10-1 five-inning setback on Sunday afternoon at Marita Hynes Field.
The second-ranked Sooners (38-2, 12-0 Big 12) extend their nation-leading winning streak to 29 games after completing the sweep of the Jayhawks (25-18, 0-9). The back-to-back reigning national champions are off to their best start in program history through 40 games.
Senior pitcher Sarah Miller (8-8) started in the circle for the Jayhawks and was the pitcher of record. OU’s Paige Parker (21-1) threw three shutout innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory.
Oklahoma scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning after batting through the order, including a two-run home run by Caleigh Clifton. The Sooners added another four runs in the third inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
KU’s bats warmed up in the fourth inning as the first three Jayhawk batters loaded the bases. Senior Erin McGinley led off the fourth with a double — her 13th double of the season to break a no-hitter for the Sooners pitching staff. Freshman Brittany Jackson ran out an infield single and senior Jessie Roane loaded the bases by drawing a walk.
With the bases juiced, senior Oklahoma native Harli Ridling hit a deep RBI sacrifice fly to right field to score McGinley from third to give KU its first and only run of the day.
OU’s Aviu hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to restore OU’s nine-run lead, 10-1. The fourth-inning run was the only that junior pitcher Brynn Minor allowed in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Kansas drew a pair of walks by sophomore Becki Monaghan and McGinely in the top of the fifth inning in an effort to rally and avoid the run-rule loss, but were left on base before the final out of the contest.
UP NEXT
Kansas continues a six-game road swing against top-25 opponents with a visit to Waco, Texas, to face No. 16 Baylor (25-12, 3-5) next weekend, April 20-22.
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