OU softball vs Kansas recap: Sooners roll past Jayhawks in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal
Coach Patty Gasso and the No. 4-ranked OU softball team open the Big 12 Tournament at 1:30 p.m. Thursday against Kansas (28-24, 11-16 Big 12) at Devon Park.
The Sooners (46-6, 22-5) are the No. 2 seed, behind Texas, the first time OU has not been the top seed since the tournament resumed in 2017. Here's what you need to know:
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OU softball live score updates vs. Kansas
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Final: Sooners finish off run-rule victory
Paytn Monticelli worked a scoreless fifth to put the Sooners' 10-1 five-inning victory away.
OU advances to the semifinals, where they'll take on BYU at 5 p.m. Friday.
The Sooners were 6 of 13 with runners on base.
More: OU softball keeps momentum building with run-rule win vs Kansas to open Big 12 Tournament
End 4: Sooners held scoreless after outburst
After building a 10-1 lead, the Sooners were finally held scoreless in the fourth, as Maya Bland's two-out single was the only baserunner for OU.
Mid-4: Paytn Monticelli comes on in relief
After Kelly Maxwell threw the first three innings, Patty Gasso went to Paytn Monticelli in the fourth and Monticelli kept Kansas in check, working around a two-out hit by pitch to keep OU's lead 10-1.
End 3: Sooners move into run-rule territory
Freshman Ella Parker delivered a two-run double in the fourth to put the Sooners' lead to 10-1 and put them in striking distance of a run-rule victory.
Mid-3: Kelly Maxwell fights through jam
After the first two runners reached on Kelly Maxwell in the third, the Sooners' pitcher battled back to retire three consecutive batters to preserve the 8-1 lead.
End 2: Jayda Coleman belts solo shot
After Cydney Sanders took Lizzy Ludwig to the warning track to start the second, Jayda Coleman did one better.
Coleman belted a first-pitch home run to left-center to put the Sooners up 6-1 in the second.
The home run was Coleman's 12th of the season.
The Sooners added two more runs later, to extend their lead to 8-1, helped in part by Tiare Jennings' single to center. Jennings, who came into the tournament in a 4-for-29 slump, has two hits in a game for the first time since April 19.
Mid-2: Maxwell settles in
After allowing a run in the first, Kelly Maxwell quickly settled down in the second, retired the side to keep OU's 5-1 lead intact.
After a leadoff walk, Maxwell got Sara Roszak to fly out to right, and Ashlyn Anderson was doubled off first.
End 1: Sooners quickly answer back to take lead
After allowing a run in the top of the first, OU wasted little time striking back.
Alyssa Brito delivered a bases-loaded two-run double down the right field line to put the Sooners up 2-1 after the three hitters ahead of her reached base on two walks and a single.
Alynah Torres followed Brito's hit with a sacrifice fly to score Tiare Jennings, and two batters later, Kinzie Hansen belted an RBI double to the wall in center to make it 4-1.
The Sooners added another on a rundown play to end the inning, as Kinzie Hansen streaked across the plate before Rylie Boone was tagged out.
The Sooners have scored 13 first-inning runs in four games vs. Kansas this season.
Mid-1: Kansas takes early lead
The last time Kelly Maxwell started a game against Kansas, it took the Jayhawks until the seventh to record their first hit.
In Thursday's Big 12 Tournament opener, it took two pitches.
Kansas leadoff hitter Presley Limbaugh reached first on a slow roller to shortstop for the first of three consecutive hits as Lyric Moore hit a single to right to drive home Limbaugh to put Kansas on the board.
With runners on second and third and no outs, Maxwell recovered to retire three consecutive batters to get out of the inning without further damage.
Pregame: Kelly Maxwell starts in circle for Sooners
Kelly Maxwell will start in the circle for the Sooners against the Jayhawks.
Maxwell (16-2) took a no-hitter into the seventh against Kansas on March 28 in Lawrence before finishing off the complete game after giving up a home run.
Maxwell has 110 strikeouts and 37 walks in 106 innings.
OU softball highlights vs. Kansas
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What time does OU softball vs. Kansas start?
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 1:30 p.m. CT
Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City
More: Big 12 softball tournament: 2024 final standings, bracket, TV schedule
What channel is OU softball vs. Kansas on today?
Streaming: ESPN+
How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here's how to stream it live)
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball rolls past Kansas in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals
