NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma hit a grand slam in the first inning and produced four runs over the next four innings as the first-ranked Sooners beat South Dakota State, 8-0, in five innings in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,706 at Marita Hynes Field on Monday.
The Jacks opened the game with the first hit of the contest in the top of the first as Emma Osmundson singled to reach base. It’s all SDSU could get on and it brought the Sooners to the plate.
SDSU starter Tori Kniesche began the inning with an out on a flyout, but the Sooner lineup proved to be a tough task to work against. Oklahoma had two straight batters earn full count walks, then a hit a by pitch loaded the bases with two outs. Alynah Torres came to the plate and forced another full count against Kniesche and made the Jacks pay. Her grand slam hit over the left-field fence gave the Sooners an early 4-0 advantage.
Oklahoma extended its lead in the second behind three hits to make it a 6-0 contest. Shannon Lasey came on in relief for the Jackrabbits in the circle and pitched a scoreless third as the SDSU infield forced a 6-4-3 double play to turn it to the fourth inning.
Hits by Lindsey Culver and Alli Boyle were highlights at the plate in the game for SDSU, while the Jacks were able to get two runners on just once in the third inning.
Oklahoma was able to close out the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a bases-loaded hit by pitch with one out in the fifth.
Kniesche took the loss for the Jackrabbits dropping to 8-3 on the season. Lasey threw 2 1/3 innings for SDSU. The two combined to give up just five hits, but the disciplined Sooners earned six walks and had two hit by pitches.
The Jackrabbits fell to 14-11 overall with the defeat. The two-time reigning national champion Sooners improved to 21-1 before facing Florida State in Norman on Tuesday.
Up Next
South Dakota State continues its travels and faces another Big 12 opponent on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the Jackrabbits face Baylor in Waco, Texas.
