OU softball routs Weber State, edges Northwestern to open Omni Hall of Fame Classic

Nicole May got into a groove against Northwestern on Friday.

Although she allowed two hits in the first inning, she escaped the frame without giving up any runs.

It was smooth sailing from there.

May didn’t allow another hit until the seventh when Northwestern’s Hannah Cady opened the inning with a solo homer, but May bounced back, capping a dominant performance.

May kept hitters off balance throughout the night and finished with 10 strikeouts as top-ranked OU beat No. 24 Northwestern 2-1 in its second game of a doubleheader during the opening day of the Omni Hall of Fame Classic at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.

May improved to 8-0 on the season, and the Sooners (24-1) got their 16th straight victory.

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May has allowed just one run in 50 innings this season and has an ERA of 0.14. She’s having a special season, and Friday’s performance added to it.

“To me, this is her best season thus far because of keeping it simple and you don’t see her get rattled,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “She doesn’t show a lot of expression. She just wants to win for her team.”

Grace Lyons and Tiare Jennings drove in OU’s two runs. Lyons hit a homer in the second inning, while Jennings hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The Sooners struggled offensively and had just three hits against Northwestern (10-8), but they had great offensive production in their first game Friday as they defeated Weber State 9-1 in five innings.

Here are five takeaways from the two wins.

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Grace Lyons returns 

Heading into Friday, the shortstop hadn’t played in a game since the Sooners faced Kentucky on March 3.

But Lyons was back for the Omni Hall of Fame Classic, and she made her presence felt.

Lyons went 2 for 4 at the plate over the two games and launched a solo homer over the left-field wall in the second inning against Northwestern. She didn't start against Weber State but did against Northwestern.

The Sooners are glad she’s back, and Lyons is looking forward to building on her solid day.

“We’re very strong right now,” she said. “And we’re a third of the way through, but I think we’re in really good shape right now.”

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OU softball starts slow against Weber State

The Sooners didn’t have the best start against Weber State (6-17) as leadoff hitter McKell McCuistion began the game with a homer off OU’s Kierston Deal.

The Sooners were held scoreless in the first two innings, but their bats came alive after that.

OU scored four runs in the third and never looked back.

Jayda Coleman sealed the run rule with a three-RBI double.

“We just didn’t come out ready to play in that first game,” Gasso said. “We made it through the second, but tomorrow you’re going to see a different looking team.”

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Alyssa Brito powers OU softball’s offense against Weber State

The third baseman was the offensive star of the game against Weber State.

Brito hit a pair of two-run homers in the victory, playing a key role in the run rule.

Her first came in the third inning and gave OU a 4-1 lead.

Her other was in the fifth that gave the Sooners a 6-1 advantage before Coleman sealed it later in the frame with a double.

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Alex Storako shines in relief against Weber State

She replaced OU starter Kierston Deal in the third inning and dominated.

Storako tossed the remainder of the game and allowed just one hit while finishing with seven strikeouts.

Storako is now 8-0 on the season and solidifying herself as one of the Sooners’ top weapons in the circle. She helped OU bounce back from a rough start and turn things around.

Gasso was proud of how her team responded to how things began.

“They’re made like champions,” she said. “When someone pushes them, they’re going to push them back harder. That’s what I feel about them every day they play.

“And today was really, we’d all tell you, wasn’t our best day of softball. Offensively specifically. But we’ve been in a grind. We have been grinding for a while. This has been a long week. A very intense week really with the Florida State game and all of that.”

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Tiare Jennings provides spark for Sooners

The second baseman had a solid day at the plate, coming up big in both games.

Jennings scored Jayda Coleman on a sacrifice fly against Northwestern and went 2 for 2 against Weber State.

Jennings scored two runs in the Weber State game, drew a walk and was one of the Sooners’ main offensive contributors overall.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball beats Weber State, Northwestern in Hall of Fame Classic