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No. 5 Oklahoma completes sweep of No. 3 Texas in wild finale

by:Jason Rhea•about 13 hours
Screenshot 2025-04-27 at 3.12.18 PM
Courtesy of Oklahoma Athletics

Just as they have done all weekend, Oklahoma drew first blood on Sunday against Teagan Kavan. The Sooners sent six batters to the plate and forced Kavan to throw 36 pitches in the inning. A lead-off walk to Kasidi Pickering set the table for Ella Parker one batter later with one out. Parker hit her eighth home run of the season and the second of the weekend to give Oklahoma a quick 2-0 lead. The two RBIs gave the Sooner sophomore 100 for her career.

However, the approach at the plate for Oklahoma over the first two games had been a mode of attacking early in the count. However, Oklahoma seemed to employ a strategy of making Kavan work deep into the counts today. After an Isabela Emerling leadoff walk and a Pickering single brought up Gabbie Garcia with one out. Then, after a 10-pitch back-and-forth battle, Garcia hit pitch number 11 for her 14th home run of the season and a 5-0 Oklahoma lead. The patient attack led to Kavan throwing 78 pitches over the first two innings.

Oklahoma’s prowess at the plate continued in the third inning, as the Sooners added three more runs. A Cydney Sanders walk and Ailana Agbayani double set Oklahoma up with two on and nobody out. With Emerling at the plate, a passed ball from Reese Atwood gave the Sooners the 6-0 lead. Emerling hit into a fielder’s choice, which chased Kavan from the game and brought in Cambria Salmon for the Longhorns.

A bunt single from Abigaile Dayton scored another run to bring the Sooners’ lead to 7-0 after Mia Scott had no play. After a Pickering strikeout by Salmon, Garcia was back up for Oklahoma. The freshman laced a single between first and second, scoring Emerling to give the Sooners an 8-0 lead into the fourth inning.

Comparatively, Texas came roaring back in the fourth inning. An Ashton Maloney single started things for Texas and chased Isabella Smith from the contest. Audrey Lowry came in and was treated rudely. A walk and a single loaded the bases for the Longhorns. Reese Atwood singled to the left side to put Texas on the board, 8-1. Katie Stewart and Joley Mitchell followed up with singles that scored three runs and cut the original deficit in half at 8-4.

With nobody out, Paytn Monticelli entered for the Sooners. While she did secure one out, that was sandwiched between two hits. But Victoria Hunter and Leigann Goode singled to score two more runs to bring the score to 8-6. Game one starter, Sam Landry, was called upon once again. The senior recorded two outs to get Oklahoma to the bottom of the fourth with a two-run advantage.

Texas tied it up in the fifth. A Mia Scott lead-off walk, which was helped by a check-swing on a potential strike three, got things started for the Longhorns. Katie Stewart hit a towering home run to center field. That completed eight unanswered runs for Texas and a tie game.

Oklahoma reclaimed the lead in the sixth. A Nelly McEnroe-Marinas walk and Sanders’ bunt single got things started. Citlaly Gutierrez entered the game for Texas with a 2-0 count. After a walk to Agbayani, Emerling delivered a sacrifice fly to give Oklahoma a 9-8 lead.

In light of the tense moments, Oklahoma closed the series sweep in the bottom of the seventh inning. Landry induced a pair of groundouts and a strikeout of Stewart for the 9-8 win.

Oklahoma will conclude SEC play at Florida next weekend with a game-and-a-half lead. Comparatively, Texas entertains Kentucky to conclude their regular season.

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