Isabela Emerling caps another OU softball comeback vs. Mississippi State

If we learned one thing Sunday, OU softball is a-OK with being down 4-0. The Sooners did it not once but twice against visiting Mississippi State. Not sure head coach Patty Gasso wants to keep repeating that scenario, but for one day? Everything turned out fine.

Isabela Emerling punctuated a day of OU fighting back. Her three-run home run proved to be the big blow and the difference in a 9-6 victory against the Bulldogs at Love’s Field.

OU trailed 4-0 in the first game before rallying for a 6-5 victory.

“The resilience. Was not real comfortable looking up and seeing a four right away,” Gasso said. “But you rather it early and allow us to respond. And we did that in both games. I was really proud of that. Not trying to overswing because it was still early in the game. We don’t want to give up runs that way. But if we do it and do it early, we have that time. They started to pull rallies together.

“Doubleheaders? I don’t remember them being this hard. They’re hard on everybody. It’s just a long day, think both teams would tell you that. Just resilience and hard swings and different heroes.”

In Game 2, it was Sam Landry who got touched up for a four-run first by the visitors. But OU had already worked that back to 5-5 in the bottom of the second.

The two teams traded scoreless innings in the third and fourth before Emerling changed it all that with one swing in the fifth.

“I just wanted to do anything I could for Sam honestly,” Emerling said. “She was pitching her butt off and I was like, just do it for Sam. Have your pitcher’s back. So it was nice to get those insurance runs for her.”

After allowing the five runs in the first two frames, Landry settled down. She had already earned the save in the first game and earned the win in the second game.

For the series? Landry went 2-0 and the save.

She got some help from Hannah Coor, both at the plate and in the field. Coor had a solo home run in the bottom of the second. Then with two outs in the top of the third, it was a diving grab to save two runs.

“What she does is when she makes a play she starts running through the field, like the outfield, and Abby Dayton’s like, they’re zig zagging,” Gasso said. “They’re chasing. I don’t know. They’re running like a mile before they get into the dugout. They’re celebratory chasing each other.

“I don’t know. It’s different, but it’s great. And it’s a big celebration. Hannah brings a lot of good energy to the team by her reactions and her celebrations and so we need her. And down in that nine spot is a great place to hide her because she does have some pop and she’s showing that.”

Captain Nelly McEnroe-Marinas also had a two-run shot in the bottom of the second. Added another home run with a solo shot in the sixth. Gabbie Garcia had a two-run shot of her own in the first.

OU 6, Mississippi State 5 (Game 1)

Sooners turned to Isabella Smith to get things back on track after trailing 4-0. This was her afternoon. Smith did all she could to steady the ship, and then the OU offense did the rest.

Smith came up huge out of the bullpen as OU was able to work a 6-5 victory against visiting Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon at Love’s Field.

The Bulldogs raced out to a 4-0 lead just one out into the game before OU turned to Smith, who was up to the task.

Smith pitched the next 4.2 innings, not allowing a run. She allowed three hits and walked three but kept battling, kept fighting.

“Coach Rocha and I have been working really, really hard just getting my mental right,” Smith said. “I think that’s probably where I’ve struggled the most. But I came in today and this week I’ve really just been trusting my stuff and trusting the talents that God has given me.

“So just going out confident and knowing that my defense had my back the entire game along with the offense so I could just keep doing what I was doing and play free.”

OU cut into the lead quickly, with a three-run bottom of the first. Kasidi Pickering hit her 13^th home run of the season to begin the game.

It was a big day for senior Cydney Sanders. She drove in two runs, beginning with a double and then tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth with a single.

OU took the lead with a wild pitch. And then it became a batter-by-batter situation for the Sooners.

The Sooners get back on track, winning their first SEC series in a month. OU had lost its last two conference series.

Up next

Oh ho, it is here. OU. Texas. Let’s do this. The Sooners (39-5, 13-5 SEC) and Longhorns lock up for a three-game set at Love’s Field next weekend. It will be the final regular season home games for OU.