Patty Gasso goes 'home,' OU softball wins marathon in Cali

It was a homecoming for OU softball head coach Patty Gasso, but she was in California a little bit longer than what she first thought.

Sooners softball played a marathon against host Long Beach State, finally coming through 2-0 in 11 innings to wrap up the six-game, four-day Cali adventure.

LBSU was where it all started for Gasso, and she threw out the first pitch. And then she watched as LBSU kept coming up big to keep OU off the board.

The Sooners left 11 runners on base. But transfer addition Abby Dayton came through with a two-out, RBI double to bring home Isabela Emerling in the top of the 11th. Ella Parker added the second run with an RBI single.

Just the way it works out sometimes as Sooners starting pitcher Kierston Deal did not get the victory. She threw six scoreless innings. Deal didn’t allow her initial hit until the first batter in the bottom of the seventh.

Deal struck out two and walked one.

It was Isabella Smith who worked the extra innings and was as dominant as she’s been all weekend. It was a wild opening weekend across the softball world. The Sooners were involved in two extra inning games, but stand tall at 6-0.

OU 9, Loyola Marymount 0 (Saturday)

It was all about the long ball for Patty Gasso and company. The Sooners went yard time and time again en route to the win.

Sophomore Kasidi Pickering got it all started with a three-run home run in the top of the first. Then solo shots were added by Ella Parker and Cydney Sanders. And Tia Milloy got into the fun with a two-run shot in the top of the seventh.

Pitcher Sam Landry went all seven innings. She allowed four hits and struck out eight.

OU 13, Cal State Fullerton 3 (Friday)

The second game was about three swings, really. A grand slam from freshman Gabbie Garcia in a five-run top of the fourth.

After Cal State narrowed the margin to 5-3, it was Isabela Emerling‘s turn. The hero Thursday came back with a three-run bomb of her own in the six in another five-run frame.

Freshman Sydney Barker got into the fun with a three-run homer in the seventh, the first of her career.

OU 8, Cal Baptist 0 (5 innings)

Well, what more could Isabella Smith do? In her first start with OU, a five-inning perfect game. It took her just 52 pitches in five frames to get the job done.

The first two days have been sensational for the transfer. Smith also struck out six.

Smith didn’t need a lot of help, but she did get plenty of it. The Sooners had 16 hits, including a four-hit performance from Ella Parker.

OU also went yard twice, the first home runs for Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and freshman Tia Milloy. McEnroe-Marinas drove in three runs.

OU 11, SDSU 6 (9 innings) (Thursday)

The final blow was delivered by Isabela Emerling. The Sooners had been patient at the plate all night, but Emerling, the transfer catcher, didn’t wait.

The first pitch with the bases loaded tied 6-6, gone. Grand slam in the top of the ninth to finally bring about the necessary separation in this one.

SDSU gave as good as it got all evening, leading 3-1 after the second inning. OU sophomore Kasidi Pickering came up huge with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth. A four-run frame that gave OU a 5-3 lead.

Sam Landry allowed five earned runs and threw more than 100 pitches in her outing as a Sooner. She also struck out 11.

In relief, Gasso went to freshman Audrey Lowry. She delivered. In 3.1 innings pitched, zero earned runs allowed and struck out five.

OU 7, CSUN 2 (Thursday)

OU trailed 2-1 after the fourth inning. Let the meltdowns commence. But when you have Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering, you can breathe a bit. OU scored six in the next two frames.

The sophomores combined for four hits and five RBIs (three for Parker, two for Pickering).

A day of newcomers and freshmen was spurred by some transfers. It was Abby Dayton at the plate and Isabella Smith in the circle.

Dayton hit a home run on her very first plate appearance as a Sooner and had three runs scored.

Kierston Deal got the start to begin things, but it was Smith who steadied everything. Seven batters faced, five strikeouts and zero hits allowed. And her first victory at OU.