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Oklahoma

OU offense vs. Karlyn Pickens – worth the price of admission

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/29/25•

BPrzybylo

Karlyn Pickens2
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

It wasn’t meant as disrespect, but you could hear the tone with OU head coach Patty Gasso. Tennessee won two of three at Love’s Field, but that was a different group of Sooners.

As the Vols and OU get ready for a battle in the Women’s College World Series, Gasso is certainly hoping for a different outcome.

Tennessee earned the series victory at Love’s Field and is hoping going to Devon Park in Oklahoma City won’t change a thing.

It’ll be No. 2 OU vs. No. 7 Tennessee at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, immediately after No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas gets things going at 11 a.m.

“It’s just about who’s going to be better, and that’s what it comes down to,” Gasso said. “So we’re going to be prepared. We’re going back and looking. If you want to talk about prep, looking at the games that we played, we weren’t at our best.

“They won fair and square. They deserve that, no doubt about it. But I think we know we have more in us, and we’re trusting we’re going to bring it out tomorrow.”

Pickens vs. OU

Gasso knows the team is different, but Vols head coach Karen Weekly believes the same thing. As dominant as pitcher Karlyn Pickens has been all season, she might have another level she can to in Oklahoma City.

Pickens carries herself in the circle with a lot of confidence. If there’s one thing the Vols got from their trip to Norman? It is that belief and confidence.

“Winning at Oklahoma, I think the thing it did for our team was gave them the confidence, and we kind of came together and solidified some things in our lineup,” Weekly said. “But other than that, it means absolutely nothing for Thursday. It’s a brand-new season. At every stage of the post-season, that’s kind of what we have talked about: This is a brand-new season, everybody is 0-0.”

Pickens went 2-0 against OU two months ago. She threw 12.2 innings and struck out 12. You want one matchup to circle? Try the OU offense against Pickens.

Pickens broke her own record, throwing a pitch 79.4 miles per hour Saturday afternoon.

“She’s one of the best,” Gasso said. “There’s no doubt about it. We respect that. We respect the team that we’re playing. Very, very good. They play hard.

“It’s pretty amazing, really. It’s setting a new standard. And there’s a lot of little girls that are going to be going, Wow, I just hit 60! Only 19 more miles to go (laughter). Long levers, Pickens is strong and long levers, and she’s been good for a long time. I remember her coming in here as a freshman and just like wowing everybody. She’s worked on her craft and gotten strong. And she’s managed well by a good pitching coach.

OU earns honors

WCWS media day means All-American honors day as well. OU once again was well-represented with multiple players earning the distinction.

Sophomores Kasidi Pickering and Ella Parker were both named to the first team. Pitcher Sam Landry earned second team honors, while freshman Gabbie Garcia has been named to the third team.

Second baseman Ailana Agbayani also earned the Rawlings Gold Glove honor. The transfer from BYU has been sensational for OU all season.

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