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Arkansas looks to avenge previous sweep vs. OU softball, rematch in SEC semifinal

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/08/25•

BPrzybylo

Bri Ellis
Arkansas 1B Bri Ellis. (Dale Zanine - Imagn Images)

There were no bad potential matchups for OU softball in the semifinal. Between Arkansas and Tennessee, there were storylines galore.

One swing by an unexpected source for the Razorbacks will give them another shot at the Sooners in Athens, Ga.

Arkansas’ Raigan Kramer hit a two-out grand slam in the top of the seventh to lift the Razorbacks to a 6-1 victory against the fourth-seeded Vols.

That marked back-to-back days of Arkansas hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning. Probable National Player of the Year Bri Ellis did the same, with a walk-off grand slam Wednesday.

Now? Arkansas will look to get a little payback against the Sooners. OU went into Fayetteville nearly two months ago and broke out the brooms in a three-game sweep.

Round 4 between the two is set for 3 p.m. Friday on ESPN2 in the SEC semifinals.

Since then? Arkansas has not lost a series. Not one. The Razorbacks are 20-6 since that moment and earned the No. 1 spot for Softball America entering this week.

OU was 26-0 overall after that sweep. The Sooners, the SEC regular season champions, are now 43-7 overall.

OU got itself going in a 4-1 victory against LSU earlier Thursday afternoon.

“We had good practices, knowing we didn’t want to come here and just turn around and go back home,” said head coach Patty Gasso to SEC Network.

Ace pitcher Sam Landry allowed just one hit and struck out seven in earning another complete game. She is now 19-4 this season.

Senior Cydney Sanders had a two-run home run and drove in three runs.

Is it Deal?

The SEC Network broadcast mentioned Gasso considered going with Kierston Deal to begin things against the Tigers.

Well, if you expect her to get the nod Friday against Arkansas, it wasn’t two of her better outings of the season in Fayetteville.

Deal started Game 2 of a doubleheader on a Saturday and came in relief Sunday.

Deal threw four innings, giving up five hits and four runs with four walks and five strikeouts as a starter. Then in relief, Deal gave up four runs in just 2.2 innings.

So although Arkansas would love to get one back on OU, you know Deal is feeling the same way when it comes to the Razorbacks.

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