OU Softball Falls To BYU, 9-4

The No. 2/1-ranked Oklahoma softball team fell 9-4 to BYU on Friday evening at Love's Field.

Oklahoma (37-4, 14-3 Big 12) was out-hit for the first time this season, 11-8, and saw BYU (22-18, 5-12 Big 12) plate at least one run in six of seven innings. The Sooners drew 10 walks but batted just 3-for-21 (.143) with runners on base, stranding 11.

Kinzie Hansen went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Sooner lineup and was joined in the multi-hit department by Rylie Boone (2-for-4, R).

BYU opened the scoring with a run in the first and added one in the second and third before Oklahoma responded with a pair in the home half of the third. The Sooners loaded the bases for Hansen, who tapped an infield single to third to plate Boone. Kasidi Pickering (0-for-2, 2 BB, RBI) then drew a free pass, scoring Alyssa Brito (0-for-1, 3 BB, R) and cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Cougars struck back with a run in the fourth. Tiare Jennings (1-for-3, BB, R, HR, 2 RBI) evened the score a half-inning later, launching a two-run blast out to center for her 16th home run of the season and 89th of her career.

Jennings' homer would be the last runs generated by the Sooner lineup as BYU proceeded to score twice in the fifth and three times in the seventh to even the series at a game a piece.

An Oklahoma State loss at Iowa State kept OU's Big 12 lead at 1.5 games entering Saturday.

The loss to BYU marks Oklahoma's first Big 12 home loss since a 4-3 setback to then-No. 15 Baylor on April 23, 2017 while the 11 hits allowed by the pitching staff represents the largest output since OU permitted 11 on June 8, 2021 against Florida State in the WCWS. BYU's nine runs scored marked the most plated against OU since Washington scored 12 on February 22, 2020.

UP NEXT

OU and BYU look ahead to the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Love's Field at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as airing on 1560 AM/103.3 FM The Franchise 2.