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Kasidi Pickering powers OU softball to regional victory, advance to championship

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/17/25•

BPrzybylo

Syndication: The Oklahoman
OU sophomore Kasidi Pickering. (Bryan Terry The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network).

One swing in the first inning set the tone for OU softball, and Kasidi Pickering wasn’t going to slow down the rest of the way.

The sophomore star had a day to remember for the Sooners. Coming up big time and time again to help OU to an 11-2 run-rule (five innings) victory against Cal on Saturday afternoon in the Norman Regional at Love’s Field.

OU, the No. 2 overall seed, is now one win away from advancing to the Super Regional.

Pickering’s first swing of the game was a solo home run. And her final swing was the grand slam to make it 11-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Pickering is not the traditional leadoff hitter, but head coach Patty Gasso has gone with Pickering in that role for a good portion of the second half of the season.

You can see why. Six RBIs — that will work.

OU was able to dominate in all of the ways. Gabbie Garcia had a two-run home run earlier in the fourth to make it 7-2.

But back when it was 1-1 in the second, it was station to station softball. RBI singles from Pickering, Ella Parker and Sydney Barker. No big shot, just passing the bat.

Sam Landry got the win, throwing the first four innings. She allowed seven hits but just the two runs to go with four strikeouts. Landry is now 21-4 this season.

With OU up 5-2 in the top of the third and bases loaded and one out, Landry got some help from the defense with a 5-4-3 double play. That thwarted the biggest Cal threat of the afternoon.

Freshman Audrey Lowry came in to pitch the fifth and retired the side 1-2-3.

Up next

A long night of waiting for OU (47-7). The Sooners can sit back and watch as Cal, Omaha and Boston University will spend Saturday evening figuring out who is taking on OU. The winner plays OU at 1 p.m. Sunday in the regional championship and would have to beat the Sooners twice.

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