Oklahoma

OU Softball: Oklahoma Shocked by BYU, in Danger of Dropping Second Consecutive Series

Published

8 months ago

April 12, 2024

Press Room

OU Softball: Oklahoma Shocked by BYU, in Danger of Dropping Second Consecutive Series

NORMAN — For the second straight weekend, Oklahoma heads into a rubber match needing a win to avoid a series defeat.

BYU lead most of Friday’s contest, and erased Tiare Jennings’ game-tying home run that came in the fourth inning.

The Cougars plated a pair in the sixth, and OU stranded two runners in the bottom half of the frame.

BYU then added a trio of runs in the top of the seventh.

Hailey Morrow lined out to Karlie Keeney, and as the OU pitcher fired to first to turn an inning-ending double play, she missed her target and overthrew Cydney Sanders.

Lexie Bennett scored from second, but the Cougars weren’t done.

Aleia Agbayani delivered with an RBI-double and Ailana Agbayani’s RBI-single put the Sooners in a 7-4 hole headed into the bottom of the seventh.

Patty Gasso’s team couldn’t overcome all the miscues.

Kinzie Hansen lead the seventh with a single and Alynah Torres added a one-out single, but Oklahoma couldn’t rally.

BYU closed out the contest to win 9-4 at Love’s Field, leveling the series ahead of Saturday’s finale.

Final Box Score

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The defeat dropped OU to 37-4 on the year and 14-3 in Big 12 play, and was the first home conference defeat since then-No. 15 Baylor beat the Sooners 4-3 on April 23, 2017 at Marita Hynes Field.

Oklahoma played from behind for most of the game after the Cougars (22–18, 5-12) got off to a fast start.

BYU shortstop Ailana Agbayani opened the contest with a double, and then Nicole May’s wild pitch moved Agbayani to third.

Maddie Bejarno’s sacrifice fly gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead two batters into the game.

Oklahoma couldn’t cash in on a pair of walks in the bottom half of the inning, allowed the Cougars to add to their advantage.

Keila Kamoku homered in the second inning and Lily Owens’ sacrifice fly in the third inning tacked on two more runs for the Cougars before OU steadied.

Rylie Boone’s single and walks drawn by Alyssa Brito and Ella Parker loaded the bases for Hansen with two outs.

The Sooner catcher connected with the ball off the end of her bat and it slowly rolled down the third base line, but the ball died and stayed fair.

Boone raced home, and everyone reached safely.

Kasidi Pickering then walked, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Avery Hodge flew out to left field to end the third, and Kierston Deal entered the game for May in the fourth.

A pair of doubles from Hailey Morrow and Ailana Agbayani extended BYU’s lead to 4-2, but a nice piece of clutch hitting from Jennings leveled the game.

The OU shortstop smashed a two-out, two-strike delivery to tie the game 4-4.

But the Cougars didn’t wilt.

With runners on first and third, BYU coach Gordon Eakin called for Maddie Udall to steal second base.

Hansen threw to record the out, but Hodge cut it off and fired back to Hansen as Lauren Flanders dashed to steal home.

Flanders’ hand snuck under Hansen’s glove, putting the Cougars back up 5-4.

Morrow’s single then scored Flanders from second to push the BYU advantage back to two runs.

Oklahoma had a great opportunity to respond in the sixth.

Boone singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Jennings’ walk put a pair aboard with one out.

Brito was unable to play hero, as she popped out into foul territory and then Parker flew out to left field, leaving plenty of work to do even before the disastrous seventh inning.

The Sooners committed two errors on the night and were outhit 11-8 in the game. Oklahoma did combine to draw 10 walks throughout the game, but stranded eight batters as a team as OU hit 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

BYU’s 11 hits were the most allowed by Oklahoma’s coaching staff since June 8, 2021 against Florida State in the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.

Both teams will return for the series finale at on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Love’s Field, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners add SEC wideout via transfer portal

Published

6 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma Sooners add SEC wideout via transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners are continuing to rebuild their wide receiver room through the transfer portal. After the 2024 season saw the top five wideouts miss all or the vast majority of the season due to injuries, and three of those five players decided not to come back, Brent Venables and his coaching staff have been hard at work building back the wide receiver depth chart in stronger, healthier fashion.

Oklahoma has now added former Arkansas Razorbacks wideout Isaiah Sategna in the transfer portal, marking the third WR that will be transferring to Norman.

Javonnie Gibson (Arkansas Pine-Bluff) and Keontez Lewis (Southern Illinois) will have some work to do when it comes to playing in the SEC, but Sategna will be right at home in college football’s toughest conference. That trio will join returners Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson to try and help the wide receiver room rebound.

Sategna is a smaller receiver at 5’11 and 185 pounds, but he managed to haul in 37 receptions for 491 yards this season. He also had a punt return touchdown for the Hogs.

There’s still plenty of work to be done when it comes to remaking OU’s wide receiver depth chart, but three additions in a few days is a good start.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.

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Oklahoma

Why Doesn’t Oklahoma Have An OTA-Run Train System

Published

15 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

Why Doesn’t Oklahoma Have An OTA-Run Train System

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has been in operation for 77 years with the goal of creating and maintaining Oklahoma’s turnpike systems.

Executive Director Joe Echelle spoke with News On 6 about various topics surrounding the OTA including why it hasn’t invested in a high-speed rail system despite having the authority to do so.

Has the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) considered implementing train systems or parking garages?

According to Joe Echelle, Executive Director of the OTA, there are provisions in state statute that allow for the potential development of parking garages or train systems under the agency’s purview. However, these concepts have not materialized due to their immense costs and logistical challenges.

What are the challenges of building a train system between Oklahoma City and Tulsa?

Echelle explained that constructing a high-speed rail system between the two cities would cost billions of dollars. Beyond the upfront expense, the operational logistics make it difficult to justify such a project.

“In order to affect the number of vehicles that travel the Turner Turnpike, which is north of 40,000 vehicles on a weekday, you’d need to get thousands of people on a train. That’s just not feasible,” said Echelle.

Factors like frequency, ridership demand, and infrastructure costs all contribute to the challenge.

Could other forms of transportation, like buses, be more feasible?

Echelle believes there is potential for alternative solutions, such as an express bus service connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He pointed to the success of the OSU bus system, which transports students between campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.

“As we get the Turner Turnpike widened, I think it’s a real possibility to get an express bus service. But first, we need to address congestion by separating truck traffic from commuter lanes,” Echelle said.

To be clear, OTA wouldn’t have any role in creating or maintaining a bus service, but Echelle believes the expanded turnpike would be able to facilitate one.

Why is expanding the Turner Turnpike prioritized over alternative transportation?

Echelle said the Turner Turnpike currently handles traffic effectively, but ongoing efforts to expand it to six lanes aim to improve flow and address future congestion. Echelle emphasized that widening the turnpike will allow truck traffic to remain in the outer lanes, giving commuters smoother travel options in the inner lanes.

Could parking garages still be part of OTA’s future?

While state law includes provisions for parking infrastructure, the focus for the OTA remains on improving roadways and exploring more viable transportation alternatives.

What is OTA’s overall vision for transportation in Oklahoma?

Echelle stated that a well-rounded transportation network, which includes trains, buses, and rapid transit, is essential for the state’s growing metropolitan areas. However, practical solutions like express bus services are more likely in the near term, especially as the Turner Turnpike widening progresses.

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Oklahoma

Report Card: Oklahoma moves to 11-0 with an 87-86 win over Michigan

Published

23 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

Report Card: Oklahoma moves to 11-0 with an 87-86 win over Michigan

The No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners are now 11-0 after a wild 87-86 win over No. 24 Michigan, erasing an 11-point second-half deficit. Freshman Jeremiah Fears was the star down the stretch, finishing with 30 points, including a game-winning four-point play in the final seconds, to push OU to victory.

Fears wasn’t alone. Duke Miles contributed 17 points, with three big three-pointers, including a clutch shot during a 9-0 run that gave the Sooners their first lead of the second half. Jalon Moore also had 16 points before fouling out late.

The two seven-footers for Michigan — Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf — were a tough matchup for OU, as they are for most teams. Goldin dropped 26 points, while Wolf added 15. Both grabbed 10 rebounds for double-doubles.

Tre Donaldson (14 points) and Roddy Gayle (15 points) also had solid performances for Michigan. But in the end, it was Fears’ late heroics that sealed it for the Sooners. Now, let’s dive into the Report Card from Oklahoma’s ranked win:

MVP: Jeremiah Fears

It was a slower first half for Fears, but he continued to get to the line, drawing fouls at a high rate and racking up points from the free throw line. In the second half, though, he broke loose, scoring 20 of his career-high 30 points, including the game-winning four-point play.

In 34 minutes of action, Fears also recorded five turnovers and four assists. He shot 8-12 from the field, 3-4 from behind the arc, and 11-13 from the free throw line—making his 30-point performance even more impressive.

Oklahoma needed big-time shot-making from their guards if they were going to pull this one out, and Fears delivered, showcasing why he’s likely a future NBA lottery pick.

Fears has proven to be the biggest difference-maker in Porter Moser’s tenure at Oklahoma. The Sooners simply haven’t had a player who can do what he does. He showed the clutch gene that could make a huge impact as OU heads into SEC play.

Starting Five: A-minus

Fears was phenomenal, but Miles’ impressive play down the stretch cannot be overlooked. Oklahoma starts three guards, and we’ve seen each of them have their nights scoring-wise. The recipe for success, though, is having two of those guards clicking at once, and tonight, Fears and Miles delivered.

Miles totaled 17 points — 15 of which came in the second half — on 5-11 shooting from the field, 3-6 from behind the arc, and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. He hit several clutch shots, including one three-pointer that gave Oklahoma their first lead of the night.

Moore also contributed, adding 16 points on 4-12 shooting from the field and 3-5 from deep, despite being in foul trouble for much of the night. He ultimately fouled out late in the second half.

Sam Godwin chipped in with 6 points and 7 rebounds on 3-6 shooting, while Kobe Elvis added 5 points on 2-7 shooting, including 1-4 from behind the arc. With Fears going for 30, Miles putting up 17, and Moore adding 16, the starters had a strong night overall.

Bench: B-plus

Glenn Taylor stepped up in a big way for Oklahoma. Playing 29 minutes — second most on the team — Taylor totaled 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. He shot 3-5 from the field and 2-4 from behind the arc.

Taylor was a key defensive presence throughout the entire game, but he also contributed offensively, particularly in the first half. He scored 8 first-half points and hit two timely three-pointers. His all-around play, making several small but important contributions, helped Oklahoma secure the win.

In other bench news: Luke Northweather scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting in 14 minutes, while Brycen Goodine added 2 points on 1-2 shooting in 11 minutes. Dayton Forsythe had a solid 5-minute stint, and Mohamed Wague played just two minutes.

Rebounding: B

It’s important to note that Michigan’s two seven-footers posed a tough matchup for Oklahoma, and heading into the game, it was expected that the Wolverines would win the rebounding battle. They did, 37-32, but the Sooners kept it close, losing the battle by just five. Given the size disparity, losing by just five on the boards is a solid effort for OU.

Three-Point Shooting: A-plus

The Sooners were red-hot from beyond the arc, shooting 6-12 (50%) in the second half and finishing 12-25 (48%) for the game.

This sharp shooting played a huge role in their comeback win. With Michigan building an 11-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining, OU knew they needed to keep knocking down shots from deep—and they did just that. Miles, Fears, and Moore each hit three three-pointers, while Taylor contributed with two of his own.

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