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Sydney Barker sets tone, OU softball cruises in regional opener

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/16/25•

BPrzybylo

Sydney Barker3
OU freshman Sydney Barker. (Dale Zanine - Imagn Images)

Cross off another mark for the OU softball freshmen. That first postseason game is in the books. And it took a freshman to get the Sooners going.

Once they did, there was no stopping them and no looking back. No. 1-seeded OU did exactly what you’re supposed to do in a 8-0 run-rule (five innings) victory against fourth-seeded Boston University on Friday evening at Love’s Field.

OU plays second-seeded Cal in a winner’s bracket game 1 p.m. Saturday.

The first four OU batters were retired before freshman Sydney Barker opened it up with a single. Everybody took that deep breath, and OU went to work.

By the time the second inning was done, the Sooners were up 5-0 and already starting to game plan and manage how to use the personnel going into Saturday.

Hannah Coor and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas each had two-run singles in the five-run frame. Isabela Emerling got the scoring going with an RBI hit-by-pitch.

Barker, who started in the outfield in the SEC Tournament, got the nod at first base Friday. It’s all part of being ready whenever your number is called.

“I think part of the game is just always staying ready,” Barker told SoonerScoop earlier this week. “If you’re on the field, if you have your cleats tied up, you should always stay ready. Part of just our motto here at Oklahoma, it’s like there’s never a time where you shouldn’t be ready. I definitely think that it’s been a ride through and through, but always staying ready is part of being a Sooner.” 

Barker had two hits and scored twice. The offensive barrage allowed head coach Patty Gasso to save Sam Landry, if needed, for Saturday.

Landry allowed two runners on base in each of the first two innings, working out of the jams. She finished with four strikeouts in three innings. From there, it was Kierston Deal who worked the next two innings and struck out three.

Corri Hicks sent everybody home with a home run in the fifth.

Up next

No. 2 overall seed OU (46-7) takes on Cal at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bears earned a 1-0 victory against Omaha to begin the Norman Regional. Saturday’s winner will be in the driver’s seat for the regional championship Sunday (1 p.m.). The loser will have to work its way back in the loser’s bracket Saturday evening.

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