The Sooners’ timely hits and powerful swings led to a 9-1 run-rule victory over Duke in the opening round of the Women’s College World Series at OG&E Energy Field in Devon Park on Thursday evening. Following the win, Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso, along with OU players Cydney Sanders, Kinzie Hansen, and Alynah Torres, spoke to the media.
The Sooners’ timely hits and powerful swings led to a 9-1 run-rule victory over Duke in the opening round of the Women’s College World Series at OG&E Energy Field in Devon Park on Thursday evening.
After the win, Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso and players Cydney Sanders, Kinzie Hansen, and Alynah Torres spoke to the media. Here’s what they had to say:
“Yeah, what a great game for the Sooners,” Gasso said. “It’s really important to get that first win. We prepared extensively for Duke because they are a really good team. I have immense respect for them, their coaching staff, and their journey to get here. They’ve always been on the cusp.”
“We expected to face a spirited team with a strong pitching staff and a variety of talented hitters, bunters, and speedy players. They have a well-rounded approach,” Gasso said. “We worked diligently to prepare for this, and I’m very proud of the entire team for their timely hitting and crucial runs, which allowed us to finish the game early. Securing that first win is vital, and we’re in a good place right now.”
Every starter in OU’s lineup reached base on Thursday evening. Kinzie Hansen, Alynah Torres, and Cydney Sanders each hit a 2-run homer. Alyssa Brito concluded the game with a 2-run RBI single, securing the walk-off victory for the Sooners over Duke.
“Yeah, definitely,” Hansen said. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that their staff is one of the best here. Curd was pitching in the high 60s to 70s at the top of the zone. We were all trying to work with that rise ball and hit low line drives.
“Jayda came in with that impressive drop change, which I think is very effective. She does a great job with her pitches, and the coaches do a great job with pitch calling.
“I noticed in the at-bats before mine that she was trying to pound the zone early with good strikes. We were taking those pitches in the first couple of at-bats. I’m pretty sure Ella got walked before me, or somebody was on first base.
“In my mind, I was thinking she’d come early with a strike at-bat at 70 mph. I loaded early, saw the ball in the middle, and just went for it. That was the adjustment.”
OU also made several key defensive plays to back up their hitting. Jayda Coleman made a diving catch, Alynah Torres made two back-handed plays, and Cydney Sanders had to stretch as far as she could to finish out close plays at first.
“It’s game-winning, game-changing one way or the other,” Gasso said of Coleman’s catch. “If she doesn’t make the play, a rally is created. If she does make the play, momentum comes into our dugout.”
“She waits for those. Sometimes I think she doesn’t run as fast just so she can—I’m kidding, no. She’s incredible. She’s an incredible athlete. I don’t know how many runs she has saved. It would be interesting to see that analytic of how many runs she’s saved the Sooners over the course of a season.
“What she’s been doing, she loves these big moments. She’s at her best in these situations, in this venue, in this World Series. It’s her favorite thing to do. We’re going to rally behind her and let her lead us.”
Sanders hasn’t had many hits this season, but nearly every hit has been a home run. She got a single against Florida State last week and hit a 2-run home run over the left field wall. She now has 28 hits and 14 home runs this season.
“The ball finally dropped today,” Sanders said. “That’s very exciting for me. I’ve been working very hard with my teammates. Like Hansen said, the machine was brutal, but we all made adjustments in the game, and it worked out for us.”
OU is set to face UCLA on Saturday, a clash between two of the biggest powerhouses in softball history.
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