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How one Ella Parker swing has altered OU softball's plan of attack in WCWS

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/30/25•

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Ella Parker14
OU sophomore Ella Parker. (Bryan Terry - Imagn Images)

OKLAHOMA CITY – OU softball was one out away from having to do things the hard way. Like the ultimate hard way.

It’s not impossible, but nobody wants to go through the loser’s bracket after the first day of the Women’s College World Series.

OU was down to that final out in the bottom of the seventh. But it never happened. Ella Parker with the three-run shot felt around the softball world for the 4-3 victory against Tennessee on Thursday at Devon Park.

It was best vs. best with Parker against Vols star pitcher Karlyn Pickens. This round went to Parker and the Sooners. From down 3-1 to winning 4-3 and jubilation galore for OU fans.

And now? Everything sets up again for OU. Instead of worrying about facing Florida in an elimination game Friday evening, now it’s resting up for Texas on Saturday afternoon.

Head coach Patty Gasso knows what that one swing really might have meant.

“It is an absolute bear to try, almost impossible,” Gasso said. “I remember that year, and I don’t remember that year, but it was us and Florida State losing our first games here and playing every game you could possibly play to get to the national championship game together in different brackets.

“It is very, very difficult. It is exhausting, to the point where you’re like I feel uncomfortable with how these players look. They’re completely out of gas. Winning the first game sets you up. Sets you up. It’s really, really important. And I think this team doesn’t even know that. We talked about it, and they don’t listen. They just do their thing.”

It is that day of rest. You could argue OU would want to play Texas instead of Florida, regardless. But they certainly don’t mind it when it includes the off-day Friday.

OU lost two of three to Florida in Gainesville earlier this month. The Sooners swept the Longhorns at Love’s Field earlier this season. Going back to last season, OU took down Texas in the Big 12 championship and swept the Horns in the championship series.

One swing, one dramatic swing from Parker and now OU is back to having everything at its disposal for how it wants to handle things.

Sam Landry again in the circle? Maybe Kierston Deal? It’s whatever Gasso and Jen Rocha want to do. There are options.

Because of Parker.

“It’s extreme belief in herself and extreme focus in what she’s trying to do,” said Gasso about Parker. “I don’t think she’s up there trying to hit a home run. She’s trying to make solid contact. And that’s the good part of it. If she’s trying to hit a home run, she’ll pop it up a mile high.

“So it’s just really setting herself up. She had already done it. So she kind of knew what she needed or what she was looking for. And it was a tough situation to pitch in as well because you knew what was at stake. So I think Ella took a little advantage of that. I call her a professional hitter.”

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