BIG RECORD HOME RUN BY OKLAHOMA’S JOCELYN ALO

Undefeated and number one in the land, Oklahoma got a historic home run Friday from senior Jocelyn Alo in her native state of Hawaii and it brought a thunderous reception from her team and fans and family before an overflow crowd in Honolulu.

It had taken Alo eight games before she connected with two on and two out in the sixth inning of a 9-0 win, the Sooners 19th in a row, 13th shutout, and 12th time the outcome came via the run-rule of five innings. It was the 96th of her college career and replaced former Oklahoma All-America first baseman, Lauren Chamberlain, who had 95.

Playing in a three-game Rainbow Classic at the University of Hawaii, it was only about 30 miles from where Alo grew up and went to high school. On a 2-1 count against Hawaii senior righthander Ashley Murphy, Alo sent a moving curveball up and down over the plate on a soaring 200-foot blast 40 feet over the right-center field fence.

“It was simply unreal,” she said. “I had been waiting awhile to break the record and now I find myself playing for the first time in my home state since high school. I had about 20 or more family members, the stands were packed with enthusiastic fans as they were when we defeated Baylor and California the first two days.”

Chamberlain, who starred from 2012 to 2115, was tuned in to every game the Sooners played, and was overjoyed that it finally happened.

“Jocelyn is a wonderful person,” she said, “and deserved to now own this long-ball record. I’ve been trying to locate her and congratulate her as the rest of Boomer Sooner nation is doing. Just another great event in another remarkable season.”

in the eight games before this, pitchers refused to give the left-handed slugged anything she could drive, which resulted in eight base on balls and one hit pitch, which head coach Patty Gasso didn’t take kindly to.”

“I wasn’t that upset about Jocelyn getting hit,” long-time coach Gasso said, “I just am concerned about my players getting hit because it could involve injuries.”

As for Alo, her reaction after the game was equal parts exuberance and relief. On the big hit, she bounded out of the hitter’s box and ran the bases throwing the shaka hand gesture and pointing to her family members.

She later came out of the dugout for a curtain call and now had a lei around her neck. The record-breaker came on Alo’s 223rd career game.

Her correct full name is Jocelyn Aloha Pumehana, but with however she is called, it was her time in the right place on the island.

After Alo and Chamberlain, Josie Harper and Katyana Mough, both of University of Arizona, totaled 92 each in recent years.