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This article was updated on April 22 at 11:02 a.m. to reflect the proper spelling of Stacey Nuveman's name.

Tiare Jennings had multiple opportunities to make history.

Coming into Friday, the senior shortstop needed one home run to tie Stacey Nuveman for sixth all-time in NCAA history, two hits to tie current Houston head coach Kristin Vesely for fourth on OU’s all-time hit list and two RBIs to tie Nuveman for sixth on the NCAA’s all-time list.

In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Jennings recorded her second hit of the night, a line drive single off the left field wall to tie Vesely.

“Definitely an honor,” Jennings said. “Just remembering all those people on that list that set the bar high for me, but I think for me, nothing changes.”

Jennings went 2 for 3 with a walk in Oklahoma’s 8-0 win over Houston on Friday. It was the Sooners’ 40th win of the season and OU became the first team to reach 40 wins this season.

Following last Friday’s shocking loss against BYU, Jennings was eager to see how the veteran Sooners would respond to adversity.

“I’ve seen a really big change with the seniors,” Jennings said. “I think you’ve got to crawl before you walk. Just being that leadership mentality again today, and I think on Tuesday we were just loose and free.”

Behind Jennings in OU’s lineup were multi-hit performances from senior catcher Kinzie Hansen and senior utility Alynah Torres. Hansen went 3 for 4 with three runs scored while Torres went 2 for 2 with a three-run homer in the first. Oklahoma also recorded seven walks during Friday’s contest.

“Walks always turn into runs,” Torres said. “We take a lot of pride in our walks, and those walks are usually good at bats.”

“No matter how we’re gonna get on first, we’re just gonna do it,” Jennings said. “Either if that’s taking our walk or being aggressive early, whatever our game plan is for that day.”

Kelly Maxwell also left her mark in the opening game of the series.

The graduate transfer lefty went five innings with two hits, no runs, three walks and five strikeouts. She threw 70 pitches and 41 strikes.

Maxwell picked up another win, improving her record to 14-1 on the season.

“Confident, sharp, attacking,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “She’s turned a big corner and she’s turned it for a while now and that is the connection she has with (pitching) coach (Jennifer) Rocha.”

“There’s just a different demeanor and confidence. She’s very, very confident on the mound right now.”

Next, the Sooners will play Houston in the second of a three game series at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Love’s Field on ESPN+.

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