How did OU softball handle Kinzie Hansen's absence? Sooners kept on rolling, of course
OU softball kept rolling right along last week, winning its five games by a combined 60-4.
The Sooners moved to the top of the Big 12 in pitching, stayed there in defense and are closing in on Texas atop the league in hitting, raising their batting average to .394.
Here’s a look at what else we learned about the Sooners last week:
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No. 1 OU
Overall record: 27-1 overall, 6-0 Big 12
Last week: 5-0 (Beat Tarleton State 8-0 (5), 12-1 (5); beat Texas Tech 14-0, 15-2 (5), 11-1)
This week: vs. UT Arlington, 6 p.m. Wednesday; vs. Baylor, 6 p.m. Friday in Oklahoma City; vs. Baylor 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday)
Kinzie Hansen misses time
After missing Tuesday’s doubleheader with Tarleton State, OU captain Kinzie Hansen had just one at-bat in the series at Texas Tech.
In Friday’s opener, Hansen started behind the plate, hit a home run to lead off the second and then gave way to Riley Ludlam behind the plate in the bottom of the third.
Without Hansen available, Riley Ludlam has picked up the slack behind the plate.
Ludlam was 0 for 3 at the plate in Lubbock but scored three runs, drove in a run and drew eight walks in the series.
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Sooners show patience at the plate
During its series at Texas Tech, OU drew a combined 29 walks, including 13 in the series-opening 14-0 win.
Ludlam drew three of those, Cydney Sanders walked four times, and Tiare Jennings walked twice.
The Sooners have shown plenty of patience at the plate this season, drawing 141 walks so far this season. No other team in the Big 12 has drawn more than Houston’s 113.
OU struck out just four times against the Red Raiders and at 68 strikeouts on the season has 20 fewer than the next-lowest team in the league.
Big 12 softball power rankings: Cydney Sanders has OU rolling again, back in top spot
Kelly Maxwell continues to deal
It was no secret that OSU transfer Kelly Maxwell was expected to be the Sooners’ ace heading into the season.
After a rough patch over Love’s Field’s opening weekend, Maxwell has been dominant since.
In her last three outings, Maxwell has pitched 18 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and walking nine with 25 strikeouts.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball: Kinzie Hansen homers in lone at-bat in Texas Tech series
