OU softball run-rules Baylor as Sooners take Game 1 of doubleheader
NORMAN — Nearly everyone at Love’s Field rose to their feet after the ball came off Ella Parker’s bat.
The OU lefty had gotten an outside pitch from Baylor reliever Kaci West before poking it toward left field, and there wasn’t any doubt.
Parker’s blast soared over the outfield wall, driving in four runs and sealing a dominant win in the process.
Top-ranked OU beat No. 19 Baylor 12-3 in five innings in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday as the Sooners played in front of a Love’s Field-record 4,520 fans.
Parker led OU (30-1, 8-0 Big 12) with five RBI with her grand slam in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the fourth, while Nicole May (10-0) tossed a complete game in the circle, allowing three earned runs and five hits while striking out seven and walking one.
More: OU softball live score updates vs Baylor in Game 2 of a Big 12 doubleheader
OU never trailed, but Baylor (17-10, 1-7) hung with the Sooners early thanks in large part to a pair of former Oklahoma high school standouts.
Carl Albert alum Zadie LaValley entered as a pinch hitter in the fourth and launched a two-run homer that snuck inside the right field foul pole, getting Baylor on the scoreboard and cutting OU’s lead to 3-2.
After OU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, Deer Creek alum Emily Hott — who finished 3 for 3 and was a triple short of the cycle — hit a solo homer in the fifth to cut OU’s lead to 5-3, but the Sooners overwhelmed the Bears in the bottom of the inning.
Riley Ludlam launched a two-run homer to make it 7-3 before Alyssa Brito hit an RBI single and Parker ended it with her walk-off grand slam.
Brito had a great game at the plate, finishing 2 for 2 with a solo homer in the third and two RBI. Jayda Coleman provided the first two runs of the game with a homer over the center field wall that scored Riley Boone, who went 2 for 3 and has 13 hits in her last 19 at-bats.
Taking the loss for Baylor in the circle was Aliyah Binford, who fell to 5-6 after allowing five runs and five hits in four innings.
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Final (five innings): OU 12, Baylor 3
Riley Ludlam hit a two-run homer that scored pinch runner Avery Hodge, extending OU's lead to 7-3. Alyssa Brito then drove in a run on a single before Ella Parker hit a grand slam to seal the win with a run rule.
Middle of fifth inning: OU 5, Baylor 3
Deer Creek alum Emily Hott cut OU's lead to 5-3 as she hit a solo homer over the right field wall. Hott has been on fire at the plate and is 3 for 3 with a double and home run.
End of fourth inning: OU 5, Baylor 2
A single from Tiare Jennings drove in Quincee Lilio, who pinch hit for catcher Riley Ludlam and reached base on a walk. Ella Parker then hit a sacrifice fly in left field that scored Jayda Coleman to extend OU's lead to 5-2.
Middle of fourth inning: OU 3, Baylor 2
Carl Albert alum Zadie LaValley entered as a pinch hitter for Baylor and launched a two-run homer that snuck inside the right field foul pole. LaValley's blast drove in pinch runner Caroline Rowatt.
End of third inning: OU 3, Baylor 0
Alyssa Brito extended OU's lead to 3-0 with a solo homer over the center field wall as she led off for the Sooners in the bottom of the third inning. Nicole May has been solid in the circle, allowing two hits while striking out four and walking one.
End of second inning: OU 2, Baylor 0
OU's Jayda Coleman hit a two-run homer with two outs in the second inning, breaking the scoreless tie. Coleman's blast over the center field wall scored Riley Boone, who had reached first base on a single.
More: OU softball live score updates vs Baylor in Game 2 of a Big 12 doubleheader
What time does OU softball vs. Baylor start?
Date: Saturday, March 23
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Where: Love's Field in Norman
More: Big 12 softball power rankings: How high did Kansas vault with sweep of Baylor?
What channel is OU softball vs. Baylor 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 run-rules Baylor as Sooners take Game 1 of doubleheader
