Sam Landry continued her impressive run, leading a powerful offensive display from the Sooners, as the second-seeded OU softball team delivered a commanding 12-1 victory over Cal in just five innings during the decisive game of the Norman Regional at Love’s Field. With this win, the Sooners (48-7) are headed to next weekend’s best-of-three super regional, where they’ll face either Alabama or Virginia Tech.
This latest triumph extends OU’s remarkable streak in regional play, marking their 16th consecutive regional victory and their 15th consecutive advancement out of the regional round. Over the course of this potent regional winning streak, ten of those wins have come via the run rule, showcasing the Sooners’ dominance, including all three games played in this year’s regional.
OU’s offensive fireworks took off in the second inning, where they scored four runs to seize control of the game. Gabbie Garcia kicked things off with a leadoff home run, marking her team-leading 18th of the season, followed by Ailana Agbayani, who belted a three-run shot to significantly widen the gap.
But it was the fourth inning that truly defined the Sooners’ offensive prowess. The team erupted for eight runs off seven hits, capitalizing on every opportunity. Kasidi Pickering launched a towering three-run homer stretching 228 feet to left field, scoring shortly after Abigale Dayton contributed with a run-scoring single. Ella Parker followed suit with an impressive 285-foot solo home run to right, nearly clearing the stands — a moment that electrified the crowd.
Freshman Riley Zache got in on the action, notching her first career run with a clutch pinch-hit single. With Corri Hicks also driving in a run, there was a near-grand slam moment from Hannah Coor that tantalizingly landed at the warning track for a sacrifice fly. The inning wasn’t finished just yet; after Pickering loaded the bases with a walk, Parker returned to the plate but fell short of another homer, as her fly ball also came to rest at the warning track.
Despite the dramatic high-energy inning, it ended with the Sooners’ largest offensive outburst of the season, surpassing their previous maximum of six runs in an inning.
In response to her team’s explosive performance, head coach Patty Gasso made the decision to bring Isabella Smith into the circle. Landry, who now boasts a record of 22-4, pitched three solid innings, conceding just one infield hit and an unearned run during her third consecutive start in the regional round, securing wins in every game she pitched. Smith held Cal scoreless in the fourth inning, while Paytn Monticelli closed out the game with a clean 1-2-3 fifth.
The offensive brigade was well-rounded, with Pickering, Parker, Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, and Agbayani each contributing two hits to a game that surely sets the tone for the road ahead in the super regional. The Sooners are peaking at the right moment, and their fans have every reason to be excited about what’s next.
