NORMAN, Okla. – The fifth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners scored early and often en route to a 13-0 run-rule win over Utah Valley University in Saturday evening's non-conference series opener at OU's Marita Hynes Field in Norman.
 
Oklahoma (44-7, 14-2 Big 12) drove home four runs in the first, two in the second and seven more in the third to put the contest away. 
 
Nicole Pendley paced the Sooners at the plate by going 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot with two runs scored and runs driven home. Her older sister Shelby Pendley, who is one of the top hitters in the nation this season, added the lone home run of the ballgame as she went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in the first.
 
OU's starter Kelsey Stevens gave up just two hits while striking out five and walking four in four innings of work to improve to 9-1 on the season. UVU's (16-37, 3-12 WAC) Kailey Christensen dropped to 1-9 on the campaign after allowing six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.
 
Following Shelby Pendley's first-inning home run, Georgia Casey drove in two more runs in the opening frame thanks to a two-RBI double to center field. After loading the bases in the second, the first-place Sooners (in the Big 12) then tacked on a pair of runs on a bases loaded walk from Erin Miller followed by a fielder's choice from Kady Self.   
 
A Wolverine error then aided OU's seven-run third, as five of the seven runs that came home that inning were unearned. Nicole Pendley and Self delivered the big hits in the frame as they each drove in two runs apiece thanks to a pair of two-RBI singles.
 
Morgan Smith and the Oklahoma native Kori Barrios (Weatherford, Okla.) paced the Utah Valley offense as they each finished with a hit apiece for the Wolverines. UVU had its best chance to score in the contest in the fourth inning when it loaded the bases before Tiani Hensley flew out to end the threat.
 
The Wolverines and Sooners will conclude the two-game weekend series on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT). The game will be televised on Fox College Sports Central. UVU will then return to Utah for its regular season finale at BYU on Tuesday, May 5 before heading to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for next week's WAC Tournament (May 7-9).