Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma Athletics)
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – A pair of grand slams powered the No. 18/13 Oklahoma softball team to a 9-1, five-inning win over Boise State (5-7) Thursday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.
Sophomores Erin Miller and Whitney Ellis each hit their first career grand slams as the Sooners (7-4) posted their third run-rule win of the season.
It was the first time OU had multiple grand slams in a game since Shelby Pendley and Kelley Reeves did it against Iowa State on April 26, 2013.
Miller’s blast set the tone in the first inning.
Senior Destinee Martinez and junior Lauren Chamberlain drew back-to-back walks with one out before junior Shelby Pendley’s groundout to first base moved the runners into scoring position. A walk to senior Brittany Williams filled the bases for Miller.
Facing a bases-loaded, full-count, two-out situation, Miller turned on the 3-2 pitch and drilled it to right center for the first home run of her career. It was also the first grand slam for OU this year and the first by an OU player since Keilani Ricketts hit one against Oklahoma State on May 10, 2013.
After two scoreless innings, Boise State broke up the no-hitter of OU starter Kelsey Stevens as Tara Glover led off the fourth with a solo home run. It was almost back-to-back home runs but Martinez made a fantastic catch in center field, reaching over and falling on top of the mesh outfield fence to make the out.
The home run would be the only hit allowed by Stevens all game. She struck out eight and walked just one in improving to 4-2 on the season.
OU responded right away to the Broncos’ run with five of its own in the bottom of the fourth.
Martinez led off the inning by reaching on an error. After a pair flyouts, Martinez stole second before Williams walked. Miller collected her second hit of the game with a single to load the bases.
Leslie Miller pinch hit for junior Callie Parsons and drew a walk to bring home a run and make it 5-1. A pitching change brought Kenzie Cole into the game for Boise State, but Ellis greeted her by swinging on the first pitch and drilling a grand slam. It was Ellis’ first career grand slam, her second homer of the year and the third long-ball of her career.
