Jennings saves the day in close call vs. Bears

NORMAN — Heading into Sunday’s series finale against Baylor, there was little indication that the OU softball team‘s dominance would slow down.

The Sooners came into the game having won 74 of their last 75 games against Big 12 competition, including outscoring the Bears 29-4 in three previous runrule meetings this season.

There was also little indication that Baylor sophomore pitcher Dariana Orme would be an issue for OU.

In two previous appearances against the Sooners, Orme was 0-2 and had allowed 13 runs on nine hits and six walks and just one strikeout in 3 2⁄ innings.

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But Orme kept the Sooners bats in check for much longer than anyone had this season.

The Sooners had scored in the first inning in 21 of their first 28 games and had been shut out through three innings just once. They hadn’t gone past the fourth inning without scoring.

But Orme was mostly dominant through 6 2⁄ innings. After a leadoff sin

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gle and a walk, Orme buckled down and didn’t allow another hit until the seventh.

Orme retired the first two batters to put Baylor one out from becoming the first team to blank the Sooners at Marita Hynes Field since the Bears did it in 2015.

But then, OU’s bats finally came to life.

After nearly flying out to end the game in foul territory in left field, Kinzie Hansen kept the Sooners alive with a single. Then Mackenzie Donihoo delivered another single before Tiare Jennings blasted a three-run, walk-off homer to center.

Jennings was 4 for 8 with six runs and nine RBIs in the series.

The home run was Jennings’ 12th of the season, second on the team behind only Jocelyn Alo’s 15.

Jennings is also second on the team with 37 RBIs.

Sooners ride high in Kentucky

Tuesday’s non-conference showdown against then-No. 8 Kentucky was an important one for several reasons.

First and foremost, the Sooners picked up a win, 9-1, against a team that figures to have a chance to make the Women’s College World Series this season.

But also, the Sooners were able to take a chartered flight for the game.

“It saved energy, got us home in time to get them to bed and get to class the next day, saved an extra day of hotels,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “So just a lot of reasons why it made sense for us, and it was a big deal for us to travel that way because we don’t do it very often.

“I appreciate Joe (Castiglione, OU’s athletic director) and all those involved in making it happen. It made our team fresh going out.”

The game wasn’t initially on the Sooners’ schedule.

Gasso said she was appreciative of Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson for agreeing to add the game.

“Especially with the SEC because they have such a grueling schedule that mid-weeks don’t always make great sense for them, but I know that it would be a good promotional television for both teams if we could get it on air,” Gasso said. “There are certain programs that I think would answer my call and some that wouldn’t.”

Gasso said after she looked for programs who were available last week, the call to Kentucky was second.

“They had just gotten off an away weekend from Alabama, so she could have easily said no. But Rachel’s wonderful to work with. She’s a competitor.

“I think she would tell you that game helped make them better.”

ANDY ABEYTA/THE DESERT SUN Tiare Jennings is second on the OU softball team in home runs (12) and runs batted in (37).

SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN OU softball coach Patty Gasso reacts during an 8-0 win against Baylor on Saturday.