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OU softball rolls BYU, advances to Big 12 championship game

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/10/24•

BPrzybylo

Syndication: The Oklahoman
OU freshman Ella Parker. (Bryan Terry - The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network).

OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s very easy to forget that a huge part of the OU softball team has been two freshmen. The Sooners are paced by one outstanding senior after another.

But when asked about her two star first-year players, head coach Patty Gasso didn’t hesitate in saying she can’t see the lineup without them.

Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering proved again why that is in helping OU get off to a hot start and not look back in a 13-2 five-inning, run-rule victory against No. 6-seed BYU on Friday evening in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals at OGE Field at Devon Park.

“Well-pitched, well-played, great offense, lot of hustling plays on the base paths, attacking, aggressive, strong,” Gasso said. “Everything that used to describe us is coming back.”

It was Parker who started it all with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Once again, a fast start to end any sort of thought of an upset or competitive battle.

The Sooners put up three in the first, with the other two coming from a Pickering two-run single. Pickering added another RBI single in the third. Parker came through with another RBI single of her own in the fourth. Then batted again in the frame and came through with an RBI double.

The fourth inning was an OU inning of old. Already up 5-0 coming in, the Sooners put up a eight-spot. One base hit after another. Never the big blow, simply ‘passing the bat’ and bringing runners home. Sooners had 13 plate appearances in the inning.

And if Kierston Deal is your starter, then that’s going to be enough. More than enough. It’s still perplexing to see Deal’s struggles coming from the bullpen. But you don’t mess with a good thing when she begins in the circle.

Deal hit a batter, walked two, had a throwing error in the first four innings. Sounds like a mixed bag, right? No, Deal was one out away from a five-inning no-hitter. Deal did allow a two-run home run but also had four strikeouts. Deal is 12-1 this season.

“Confident. She really looked confident,” Gasso said. “She did a good job of getting ahead and keeping them off balance. That’s a very good hitting team. We all have seen that. So for KD to keep them off balance and keep the ball in the part – and I know in the seventh, it’s a little bit different.

“I’m not making an excuse for her because she’s very upset over that. But she threw a great game. They’re going to get one and they did. But we’re up by 13. So we can manage that.”

Parker and Pickering drove in three runs apiece. Kinzie Hansen and Alyssa Brito also had two RBIs.

Up next

Time for the championship. No. 2-seeded OU (48-6 overall) will take on either No. 1 Texas or No. 4 Baylor for the title Saturday evening. OU swept Baylor at Love’s Field earlier this season. Texas took two of three from the Sooners in Austin last month. First pitch is 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

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