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. 

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+.