Oklahoma Softball Dominates Boston University With Impressive 8-0 Shutout Victory in Five Innings During NCAA Tournament Clash

The Oklahoma Sooners delivered yet another commanding performance on the softball diamond Friday afternoon, blanking the Boston University Terriers 8-0 in a five-inning run-rule victory to open their 2025 NCAA Tournament run. It was the type of performance that has become all too familiar to fans of Patty Gasso’s powerhouse program — sharp pitching, crisp defense, and relentless offense — all wrapped into one efficient and dominant postseason display.

From the first pitch to the final out, the Sooners were in complete control. Oklahoma ace Nicole May, a veteran of the postseason wars and a steadying presence in the circle, set the tone early with pinpoint control and confidence that Boston simply couldn’t match. She allowed just one hit across five innings of work, striking out seven and walking none. Every inning she pitched reinforced why Oklahoma is once again a favorite to hoist the trophy at the Women’s College World Series.

Boston University, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, came into the contest with an impressive résumé, boasting a 52-4 overall record and having dominated the Patriot League throughout the spring. But against a blue-blood program like Oklahoma, the Terriers quickly found themselves outmatched by a deeper, faster, and more experienced squad.

Oklahoma’s offense wasted little time in jumping on BU’s starting pitcher, Allison Boaz. After a scoreless first inning for both sides, the Sooners’ lineup came to life in the bottom of the second. With one out and two runners on, junior infielder Tiare Jennings delivered a two-run double off the left-center wall, sending the home crowd at Love’s Field into a frenzy. That hit opened the floodgates, and Oklahoma never looked back.

Following Jennings’ spark, the Sooners kept applying pressure. Freshman phenom Ella Parker, who has quickly emerged as one of the most dangerous hitters in the country, followed up with a sharp single up the middle to score Jennings. Just like that, it was 3-0, and the energy in the stadium suggested it might just be the beginning.

It was. In the third inning, the Sooners poured it on. After May sat the Terriers down in order once again, Oklahoma loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a bunt single, a hit-by-pitch, and a sharp infield single. Boston attempted to halt the bleeding by bringing in reliever Kasey Ricard, but the move did little to slow Oklahoma’s offensive engine.

Kinzie Hansen, the Sooners’ veteran catcher and one of the emotional leaders of the team, stepped to the plate with two outs and delivered a bases-clearing double into the left-field corner. The crowd erupted as Hansen slid safely into second base, clapping and yelling toward her dugout with uncontainable energy. It was 6-0 Oklahoma, and the writing was on the wall.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Oklahoma’s offensive barrage was how many different players contributed. Eight different Sooners recorded hits in the game, and six different players either drove in or scored runs. The lineup was a rotating cast of power, speed, and discipline — and Boston had no answers.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Sooners added two more runs to push the lead to 8-0. The first came on a solo home run from Jayda Coleman, who turned on a 2-0 pitch and sent it soaring over the right-field wall. The second came from a sacrifice fly by Jennings, bringing her RBI total for the day to three.

On the defensive side, Oklahoma was just as sharp. The Sooners committed no errors and turned a double play in the top of the third that extinguished Boston’s only real offensive threat. With a runner on first, BU’s leadoff hitter attempted to bunt for a hit, but Oklahoma’s infield defense swarmed the ball. May pounced on it quickly and fired to second, where Jennings made the turn to first for the double play.

Boston University, despite the lopsided score, never lost its grit or focus. The Terriers battled every at-bat and played with visible pride. But the jump in competition from the Patriot League to the reigning national champions was simply too much to overcome. In the fifth inning, needing at least a run to extend the game past the mercy-rule limit, the Terriers went down in order, the final out a strikeout by May that brought the crowd to its feet.

With the win, Oklahoma advanced to the winner’s bracket of the Norman Regional, putting themselves in a strong position to host the Super Regional should they take care of business through the weekend. It also extended the Sooners’ postseason winning streak at home, where they have been nearly unbeatable under Gasso’s leadership.

The game served as a reminder that even as programs across the country continue to grow and invest in softball, Oklahoma still represents the standard. The Sooners are now three wins away from another trip to Oklahoma City, where they’ve hoisted the national championship trophy each of the past three seasons. And if Friday’s performance was any indication, they have no intention of relinquishing their throne.

After the game, Coach Gasso spoke with the media and praised her team’s preparation and execution.

“We’ve been working on staying loose but focused, and I thought we were locked in from the first pitch,” Gasso said. “Nicole [May] did a phenomenal job setting the tone. Our defense was sharp, and I loved how we stayed aggressive on offense. That’s the kind of softball we expect to play in the postseason.”

May, who improved to 16-2 on the season, echoed her coach’s thoughts and emphasized the importance of experience this time of year.

“We know what it takes to win at this stage, and everyone’s locked in on the same goal,” she said. “It’s about one game at a time, and today we did what we needed to do. I was just trusting my stuff and letting the defense work behind me.”

For Boston University, the loss stings, but their season is far from over. The Terriers will drop into the loser’s bracket of the regional, where they’ll face an elimination game against the winner of the day’s second contest. A long road remains, but the experience of playing a team like Oklahoma is one that will benefit BU’s program for years to come.

Back in the Oklahoma dugout, the mood was celebratory but businesslike. The Sooners know that dominance in the early rounds is nice, but the true tests lie ahead. There’s little margin for error in the NCAA Tournament, where one off day can mean an abrupt end to a championship chase.

But if this performance is any indication, the Sooners don’t appear likely to let up. From the precision of May’s pitching to the energy of the bats to the roar of the home crowd, Friday’s win was everything Oklahoma could have asked for. It was the latest chapter in a dynasty still very much alive — and perhaps only getting stronger.

As the postseason unfolds, all eyes will remain on Norman, where Oklahoma’s title defense marches forward with confidence, talent, and tradition on full display. Whether it’s the veterans like Jennings and Hansen, or the new stars like Parker and Coleman, this is a team built for May — and maybe, once again, for June.