OU softball 'climbing,' dominates Texas to take series, looking for sweep Sunday

Maybe quiet confidence isn’t the right term for what OU softball head coach Patty Gasso is feeling about her squad, but it’s close. A feeling of look out, here they come again.

Because despite all the so-called struggles this season, the Sooners have only lost five games. And in the initial two contests against rival Texas? OU has unquestionably been the better team.

No fluke, no accident.

Saturday saw the perfect combination of Kierston Deal in the circle and an offense finding its groove in a 7-2 victory against the visiting Longhorns at Love’s Field.

“First, to see KD step up the way she did was so huge for our team, our pitching staff,” Gasso said. “It was fun to watch her. It’s hard to get in a zone. And when you see somebody in a zone, it’s kind of awesome to watch. You could see her in that place. That’s the great news. Once you know how to get there, you’ll get back there. I’m really excited for that.

“Loved, loved, loved the fans. I thought after the rain and time change, maybe half full. I didn’t expect what we had today, which was bigger and as bright as it was yesterday. It was such a party, it felt like. But the momentum just kept coming to us, and we were running with it. I felt it was just an absolute team win.”

Through six innings, Texas had zero answers against Deal. The junior allowed just one hit and a couple of walks, taking a 7-0 cushion into the final frame.

Texas notched two runs in the seventh before Deal closed the show. OU has been searching for that consistent No. 2 pitcher to go with ace Sam Landry. The search was over, at least for one night.

Deal knew it even before the game got going.

“I would say it kind of started even before we warmed up,” Deal said. “We had a really good film session and Coach Rocha made me feel really prepared for this game. And trusting my pitches and trusting our defense and our hitters. I could feel it coming before the game started and just being able to stay in that rhythm, in that zone, it really helps.”

Deal had it rolling, and Ella Parker got the offense going. Parker smashed a solo home run to deep right field. Everybody exhaled a bit, and the bats came alive.

Whether it was Abby Dayton or Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, a lot of different players were coming up big.

Dayton drove in three runs, while McEnroe-Marinas had a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-0.

Statement made. Series to the Sooners.

“We haven’t peaked. We’re climbing for the right time, I will say,” Gasso said. “I feel really good about this performance, and the way they’re all coming together. They’re having fun. They’re confident.

“One of the highlights for me, although this game was kind of getting in the late innings was Tia Milloy. She has been struggling to get an opportunity where she can really kind of… In front of a big crowd like that is what we are looking for. Giving opportunities for some young ones to feel this. I think we were all really excited for that as well. Just those little things, mean a lot to this team.”

Got the game in

The game was set for 11 a.m. but moved to 6:30 p.m. because of the weather. The rain absolutely hit for hours and hours.

Somehow, though, the game got in. No doubleheader Sunday. Everything at OU’s disposal heading into the finale.

“I’m so glad you said that, because I should have started off thanking our grounds crew, because they’ve been here since early, early hours and pushing water, tarping, untarping, tarping again,” Gasso told SoonerScoop. “Putting a blower in the roll of the tarp to try to dry the dirt. I mean, they have been absolutely amazing. And the staff — our staff has helped as well.

“So it’s just — it’s manpower, but it’s pride of Oklahoma softball that they want to do it right. And they did. And the fact that we played on this field tonight — and it was great conditions as well. The only thing that didn’t work, and they probably didn’t like it was the visitor’s bullpen was a mess, so the Sooners and the Longhorns were in the bullpen together on the home side. It’s a rivalry, yes, but we’re coaches and we do what’s right for the athletes and the sport, so it was fine.”

Up next

No. 5 OU (41-5 overall, 15-5 SEC) entered the weekend tied for second in the SEC. Back-to-back victories against No. 3 Texas and two losses by Texas A&M and now OU is sitting all alone at the top of the conference. The Sooners go for the sweep 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2.