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OU softball eight-run fourth inning catalyst to regional title, back to Super Regionals

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/18/25•

BPrzybylo

Ailana Agbayani9
OU 2B Ailana Agbayani. (Dale Zanine - Imagn Images)

That’s when you really know it’s going good for OU softball. You can’t just stop one batter because it’s not a one-person team.

If you exhale after one out, here comes the next one. When the Sooners are getting those contributions, it’s going to make for a long day for the opposition.

That happened Sunday. Bomb after bomb after bomb on the way to a 12-1 run-rule victory (five innings) against Cal to earn the Norman Regional championship Sunday afternoon at Love’s Field.

Back to the Super Regionals once again for OU, the second overall seed.

Take your pick. The unexpected three-run shot from Ailana Agbayani. The opposite field flick of the wrist three-run shot by Kasidi Pickering. Or the mammoth bomb from Ella Parker that went 285 feet.

Cal played nearly until midnight because of weather delays Saturday. Nothing left in the tank, and OU made it pay for it.

OU was already up 4-1 in the top of the fourth when it put the game to bed. The Sooners put an eight-spot, the most in an inning this season.

But it all started with Gabbie Garcia and Agbayani in the second inning. Garcia began the frame with a solo shot. And Agbayani came to the plate with runners on first and second.

Cal brought its infielders in, assuming a bunt was coming. Instead? Agbayani crushed a three-run bomb. You cannot assume against the OU offense. All of them are just as likely to lay down a squeeze as to pull it back and take it yard.

Then the eight-run fourth. It started with an RBI single by Abby Dayton. Then you had Pickering and Parker go back-to-back. But it just kept coming. Head coach Patty Gasso used one pinch-hitter after another. It didn’t matter. OU just kept coming.

Weekend could not have worked out better for OU with ace Sam Landry. She earned all three wins, improving to 22-4. But never threw more than four innings in any of the games.

After going the initial three, OU went to Isabella Smith to give her some postseason experience. Again, Gasso needs a staff. Sunday afternoon gave her a chance to keep working on that. Paytn Monticelli worked the fifth.

Up next

Well, a lot of waiting for No. 2 OU (48-7) between Alabama and Virginia Tech. Expected to start at 1 p.m., they’ve been in a rain delay all afternoon. The Crimson Tide have the edge in needing just the one victory. Hokies need to win in Tuscaloosa twice to advance to take on OU in Norman.

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