Oklahoma softball tops Boston U to open NCAA Tournament, will face Tulsa on Saturday

The Oklahoma Sooners stayed red hot as they avenged their previous loss to Boston University by dismantling the Terriers in a 9-0 run-rule. The Sooners will now advance to the winner’s bracket on Saturday where in-state foe Tulsa awaits.

Ace pitcher Paige Parker got the start in the circle for the Sooners on Friday, and her performance was absolutely scintillating. Parker recorded four strikeouts and gave up only three hits on the night. Paige Lowary came in for the final three outs in the fifth inning in her familiar role as closer.

It was almost a take your pick kind of evening for the Sooners when it came to who was hot from the plate. Sydney Romero recorded a three-run triple in the fourth, and freshman phenom Jocelyn Alo had the lone home run on the night for two RBI.

It took a little while for the runs to come in, but in the bottom of the third inning, Kelsey Arnold reached first base with a lead-off single through the left center field. Arnold then advanced to second after Lea Wodach made a successful SAC bunt. Alo walked right after that, which directly lead to Shay Knighten’s RBI single that dropped between two defenders in left field. The Sooners would eventually load the bases before Boston recorded the third out with Oklahoma leading 1-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Nicole Mendes got things started with a lead-off walk. Fale Aviu followed her up right away with a single up the middle. Kelsey Arnold kept the good momentum going as a mishandled bunt allowed the Sooners to load the bases. Romero then made it count with a three-run triple to right center. The Sooners weren’t finished there as Alo drilled one over the wall for a two-run dinger, putting OU up 6-0.

Still in the bottom of the fourth, with the bases freshly cleared, Knighten would reach first on a single, Nicole Pendley would double to left center, and Caleigh Clifton would walk to load them up once again. The inning would come all the way back to Mendes, who walked to send in another Sooner run. Next, Raegan Rogers dropped one over the right infielder to bring another home, and an Arnold single would lead to the final RBI of the game.

Up next, Oklahoma will take on Tulsa in the winner’s bracket of the Norman Regional on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Golden Hurricane run-ruled the Missouri Tigers 9-1 in the game before tonight’s match between the Sooners and the Terriers. OU and Tulsa played each other once previously this season in a game at Tulsa, where the Sooners won a tight contest 1-0. This will also be the second postseason in a row in which these two programs face off in the regional round. Last season, Oklahoma defeated Tulsa in back-to-back games to win the regional.

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