OU SOFTBALL TAKES FINAL BEDLAM GAME, NO. 2 SEED IN BIG 12 TOURNAMENT

All the familiar names for OU softball, but in order to get it done vs. Oklahoma State? The Sooners had to rely on a few players who weren’t on the team last season.

Freshmen Kasidi Pickering and Ella Parker at the plate, and senior Karlie Keeney in the circle. That trio made sure No. 2-ranked OU did not get swept in Bedlam at Love’s Field, helping OU to an 8-2 victory Sunday afternoon.

Tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Jayda Coleman came through with an RBI single. Then it was time for Parker. The freshman crushed her 10 home run of the season, a three-run bomb that allow Love’s Field to celebrate just a little bit more.

It was Parker that sparked the six-run sixth, after Pickering picked the team up back in the fourth.

Scoreless through three innings, Pickering finally came up with the big hit that OU couldn’t get in the first two games. An opposite field two-run home run, which was the first of the weekend.

And then there was Keeney. She came in relief Friday and Saturday and was the only OU pitcher to not allow a run. So head coach Patty Gasso rolled the dice and had Keeney start.

Keeney trusted her defense and went to work. Super efficient the entire time. Trusting that defense included a diving fielder’s choice final out in the top of the fifth by Tiare Jennings.

Keeney pitched five scoreless innings. Kierston Deal came in and allowed three straight singles and got one out. Gasso went back to Keeney, who gave up a two-run single but then shut the door.

Keeney threw 6.2 innings, allowing four hits, four walks and striking out three. She is 5-1 this season.

After Parker’s home run, Tiare Jennings added a solo shot. Hannah Coor also had an RBI single.

A win that was probably more needed for OU than OSU at this point. Texas had already clinched the outright Big 12 championship earlier in the day. The win puts OU as the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. OSU is now the No. 3 seed.

If everything goes to plan, Round 4 of Bedlam would be Friday evening at USA Hall of Fame Stadium. But we’ve still got work to get done, first. And OU will have a few more days to see if it can get to that level it knows will be necessary rest of the way, like it did in the sixth.

Up next

Time for the Big 12 Tournament. OU (46-6 overall, 22-5 Big 12) is not the No. 1 seed and will have to wait until Wednesday to find out its opponent. No. 7 Kansas plays No. 10 Houston in the first round Wednesday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. The Sooners will play the winner of that game 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Oklahoma City.

The post OU softball takes final Bedlam game, No. 2 seed in Big 12 Tournament appeared first on On3.

2024-05-05T22:59:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd