Chavez homer lifts KU softball past No. 5 Oklahoma

Daniella Chavez hit a two-run, one-out home run to give Kansas University a huge 4-2, eight-inning, walkoff victory over No. 5-ranked Oklahoma in Big 12 softball on Friday at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.

The homer also scored Chaley Brickey, who had led off with a double.

“Daniella is one of the best hitters in the country and definitely one of the best freshman hitters in the country,” KU coach Megan Smith said.

The blast made a winner of Alicia Pille (21-3), who allowed just one run off six hits over six innings in relief of starter Bryn Houlton.

It was KU’s first win over a top-five team since the Jayhawks beat then-No. 1 OU in 2013.

Kansas (25-8 overall, 5-5 Big 12) won despite being outhit, 6-3, by the Sooners (40-7, 12-2).

The series will continue with a single game at 2 p.m. today

Oklahoma 001 010 00 — 2 6 0

Kansas 000 020 02 — 4 3 0

W –Alicia Pille, 21-3. L — Paige Parker, 21-5.

2B — Whitney Ellis, Nicole Pendley, OU; Chaley Brickey, KU. 3B — Lauren Chamberlain, OU. HR — Brickey, Daniella Chavez, KU.

Kansas highlights — Brickey 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBIs; Chavez 1-for-4, R, 2 RBIs, game-winning HR; Pille 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K.