OU SOFTBALL: OKLAHOMA MEETS PAIR OF FAMILIAR FACES IN HIGH-POWERED CLASH WITH TENNESSEE
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma survived a pitcher’s duel on Thursday, but it may have to stage a fireworks show to move to 2-0 at the Women’s College World Series.
The top-ranked Sooners dispatched of 9-seeded Stanford 2-0, only to face a much more potent offensive test.
Fourth-seeded Tennessee will meet OU on Saturday with a spot in the WCWS semifinals on the line.
The Sooners (57-1) and the Volunteers (50-8) rank in the top 10 in ERA and home runs per game and they fall in the top two in runs per game.
Tennesse slugger Kiki Milloy has belted 25 home runs this year, and two of her teammates also have double-digit homers.
One of those is Zaida Puni, who starts at third base for the Volunteers and is a former Sooner.
How to Watch Oklahoma vs. Tennessee:
- Saturday, 2 p.m., ABC
Another familiar face mans the infield alongside Puni, with 2021 WCWS sensation Mackenzie Donihoo starting for Tennesse after transferring from Oklahoma last offseason.
The Volunteer offense was on full display, hammering Alabama 10-5 in the first contest of the 2023 WCWS.
OU coach Patty Gasso will have plenty of options to battle the potent offense. Sophomore star Jordy Bahl dominated the Cardinal on Thursday, and was able to enjoy a day off on Friday that could keep her fresh for the matchup.
Gasso could also hand the ball to Nicole May, who trails only Stanford’s NiJaree Canady nationally with a 0.82 ERA.
Alex Storako and Kierston Deal are also available, though Storako has struggled in the NCAA Tournament posting a 7.88 ERA in 5 1/3 innings, and Deal has only pitched 3 2/3 innings in the tournament.
In the circle, Tennesse has consistently stuck with senior Ashley Rogers. The right hander has pitched 135 1/3 innings this year, striking out 174 batters and allowing just 44 walks.
Rogers has also held opposing hitters to a .130 average, posting a 0.83 ERA, but the Sooners are fresh off a tough test after facing Canady in the circle.
The top three hitters in Oklahoma’s batting order, Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings and Haley Lee, combined to hit 2-for-9 against Canady, leaving plenty of room for improvement against the Volunteers.
Oklahoma may be the only lineup in the country that can meet Tennessee’s power head-on.
The Sooners have five hitters who have blasted double-digit bombs, and four hitters have driven in over 50 RBIs.
But Gasso’s team isn’t one dimensional.
Oklahoma didn’t log one extra-base hit against Stanford, instead stringing together singles and preying on defensive miscues to plate its pair of runs.
“We don't always have to hit home runs,” Coleman said after beating Stanford. “We can be the team that's just scrappy. Just put the ball in play, hit low line drives.
“I think sometimes people want us to jack home runs when that doesn't win it all the time.”
The Sooners will take runs by any means necessary on Saturday to pull one win closer of the championship series.
Whichever team emerges victorious will return to Hall of Fame Stadium on Monday, and would have to lose twice to fall short of playing for the national title.
Oklahoma and Tennessee meet at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.
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