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No. 2 Oklahoma sweeps No. 9 South Carolina in SEC opener

by:Jason Rhea•about 14 hours
Screenshot 2025-03-09 at 5.11.54 PM
Courtesy of Oklahoma Athletics

The Sooners lost the most decorated senior class in program history. Questions loomed over the College Softball world as to how the new-look Sooners would respond. After scoring 22 runs over the three-game sweep of the Gamecocks, it appears the bats have not left Norman.

Now, there are certainly questions around how elite the pitching staff can be. But Audrey Lowry helped solidify the weekend for the Sooners as they are 22-0 to begin the 2025 campaign.

Game One: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9

Much like Friday night, the second game in the series was a back-and-forth affair. The Sooners made the most of their final opportunity. After Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering drew walks to start the inning, Oklahoma had the winning run in scoring position. Gabbie Garcia delivered a double in the gap for the dramatic victory for Oklahoma.

After falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, South Carolina clawed back to take an 8-6 lead into the fifth inning. The Gamecocks belted four home runs in the game. Ella Chancey hit a grand slam to tie the game at six, her first of the season. Then, Natalie Heath hit her second of the game, giving the Gamecocks the lead.

Comparatively, Oklahoma sent four balls out of the ballpark as well. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas hit out a pair and had six of the Sooners’ 10 RBIs of the game. In the first inning, the Sooners went back-to-back-to-back for the first time since 2023. Kiersten Deal threw the final 1.1 innings to earn the win.

Game Two: Oklahoma 2, South Carolina 1

After a couple of high-scoring affairs, the pitchers took center stage in the final game of the series. Audrey Lowry and Jori Heard went head to head, but it was Lowry who got the upper hand. Oklahoma proved they could win multiple types of games as the pitching duel went the way of the Sooners to complete the sweep.

Coming off of a fantastic weekend last week, Arianna Rodi finally got going as she hit her 10th home run of the season. The hit cut the Oklahoma lead to 2-1 in the fourth inning. However, that would be the last threat that South Carolina got for the remainder of the game. The Gamecock bats were off balance for the first time this series.

Oklahoma got things started early in the first inning, albeit in unconventional form. With Pickering on first, McEnroe-Marinas single through the right side and Pickering scored on the slow relay back to the infield. Then, Garcia laid down a bunt, and the throw to first base was errant and allowed the second run of the inning to score. That’s all the Sooners would need as Audry Lowry threw a complete game, three-hit gem to secure the sweep for Oklahoma.

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