Brito, Maxwell Lead OU Softball To Series Win Over BYU

A three-hit, four-RBI performance from senior third baseman Alyssa Brito and a complete-game effort from graduate left-hander Kelly Maxwell guided the No. 2/1-ranked Oklahoma softball team to a 7-3 win over BYU on Saturday afternoon at Love's Field, securing a series win in the rubber game.

The Sooners (38-4, 15-3 Big 12) out-hit BYU (22-19, 5-13 Big 12) 10-6 and did not strike out at the plate while drawing seven walks as a team. Brito led the lineup with a 3-for-4, four-RBI effort while Alynah Torres (2-for-3, R, RBI) provided a multi-hit game.

Oklahoma remains 1.5 games ahead of Texas in the Big 12 standings and improved to 2.5 games up on third-place Oklahoma State. The Sooners are idle Sunday while the Longhorns and Cowgirls wrap up their respective series with Baylor and Iowa State.

Maxwell gave OU a gutsy effort in the circle, going the distance for her 13th win of the season. She struck out six across 7.0 innings of three-run ball, scattering six hits and two walks. The left-hander threw 77 of her 113 pitches for strikes (68.1%), induced a key double-play grounder and trusted her defense. OU centerfielder Jayda Coleman made a highlight-reel diving grab in the fourth, punctuating the excellent defensive effort.

Oklahoma started the scoring in the bottom of the first as a Kinzie Hansen (1-for-4, 2B) fly ball lofted into right with two outs was dropped, allowing Tiare Jennings (1-for-2, 2 BB, R, 2B) to cross home. The Cougars responded with a solo home run in the second before the two sides exchanged zeroes in the next two frames.

A seeing-eye single off the bat of Torres in the third loaded the bases with one away. Two batters later, Brito poked a two-run single into right-center, plating Ella Parker (1-for-3, HBP, R, RBI) and Torres for a 3-1 Sooner lead. Maxwell settled in well after being handed the lead, blanking BYU over the next three innings.

OU provided its ace insurance with a four-spot in the fifth, opened with a Hansen double that extended her hitting streak to 10 games. Torres singled home pinch-runner Maya Bland, then Brito blasted a two-run home run two batters later. BYU went back to its starting pitcher out of the bullpen and promptly loaded up the bases. A Parker infield single plated Quincee Lilio to account for the final Oklahoma run.

The Cougars hit a two-run home run in the seventh, but Maxwell responded by fanning two of the next three batters to close out the win.

Coleman drew a walk in the fifth to extend her on-base streak to 29 games. Torres' two-hit effort capped a terrific series in which she reached in six of her seven trips, going 3-for-4 with three walks across the set. Hansen led OU with five hits in the series, batting .455 with a double.

Oklahoma improved to 6-1 in series this season including a 4-0 mark in home series. A crowd of 4,509 attended Saturday's series finale.

Up Next

OU looks ahead to a neutral-site midweek contest against Tulsa on Tuesday, April 16 at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City with a 6 p.m. CT first pitch. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as airing on 1560 AM/103.3 FM The Franchise 2.