Oklahoma softball rolls Missouri in dominating fashion

There was a tweak to the batting order for Oklahoma softball Saturday. First baseman Cydney Sanders, who had been hitting third, was moved down to fifth.

Sanders has had some moments during the second half of the season, but she’s also been plagued by a lack of consistency.

A lack of consistency was not an issue vs. Missouri. Sanders drove in three runs to help the No. 1-ranked Sooners to an impressive 11-0 (6 innings) victory against the Tigers in NCAA regional action at Marita Hynes Field.

OU (53-1 overall) is now on a 43-game winning streak and will play for the regional championship 1 p.m. Sunday. If the Sooners lose, they would have another shot immediately after that game. The opponent is TBD between Hofstra, Cal and Mizzou.

Sanders drilled a two-run single in the top of the first inning with two outs.

“Today was really good because regionals leads to the World Series and Super Regionals so I just want to get hot before we continue on,” Sanders said. “Just staying focused to my game plan. Just trusting my hitting and just going from there. Not really doing too much, not doing too less.”

Sanders absolutely crushed her sixth home run of the season, a solo homer later in the game.

The move in the order worked across the board. Catcher Kinzie Hansen went up the fourth spot and came through with a two-run homer as well.

It was almost a carbon copy of Friday’s 11-0 win vs. Hofstra. Oklahoma is OK early, and then takes it to the next level during its second and third times at the plate.

Oklahoma doesn’t need 11 runs when Jordy Bahl throws the way she did. The sophomore was outstanding in allowing one hit in five innings with seven strikeouts.

Freshman Kierston Deal wrapped things up with two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the sixth for OU’s 26th run-rule victory of the season.

“Jordy did a great job starting the game the way she did,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “Just really pounding the zone. Ahead of the counts. Really shutting Missouri’s offense down.

“I loved how we scored early and then we just started scoring often. The defense was outstanding. There’s nothing I could pick apart.”

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