The OU softball search for a No. 2 pitcher behind Sam Landry

When fall ball began for OU softball, nobody was really sure who was going to be the ace. Head coach Patty Gasso had brought in transfer Sam Landry, who brought in a wealth of experience and production from Louisiana.

And then there was junior Kierston Deal. Coming off a stellar sophomore season, maybe it was her time to make that leap.

By the season opener? Everybody knew Landry was going to be the one. And now two weeks left in the regular season? Landry isn’t just the ace. She’s almost at a point where you expect her to be in the circle every game.

Heck, in the three-game sweep against Mississippi State, she was. Landry earned the traditional victory in the circle in the first game and the third game. But in the second game, Landry came in to record the final five outs and earn her fourth save of the season.

Landry has been ready time and time again. There will be zero surprises when she gets the ball against rival Texas on Friday evening at Love’s Field.

However, OU needs a No. 2. You cannot survive in 2025 with just one reliable arm. And this weekend will provide another opportunity for Deal and freshman Audrey Lowry to show what they can do.

“They’re ready to go. Game 1, I think everybody knows the coaches throw their best,” said Gasso on Tuesday evening. “Game 2, we’re going to tag team it. And they’re going to have to be their best. But if it’s a winnable game and I can get Sam Landry in there to close it if we’re not having success in Game 2? That’s what we did Saturday.

“I don’t like doing that, but she’s begging for it. She wants to do anything she can to help the team. If needed, we’ll do that, but it shouldn’t be needed. Then, depending on how Sam feels… But there’s a fine line to how far we would go.”

By the numbers

Sam Landry: 1.89 ERA, 15-3, 12 CG, 4 saves, 118.2 IP, 82 H, 36 R, 32 ER, 23 BB, 126 K, 12 HR.

Kierston Deal: 2.98 ERA, 8-1, 58.2 IP, 49 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 21 BB, 36 K, 8 HR.

Audrey Lowry: 2.75 ERA, 5-0, 35.2 IP, 26 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 2 BB, 35 K, 6 HR.

The stats only tell part of the story, though. It’s not just that Landry has throw more innings than Deal and Lowry combined. It’s the trust factor for Gasso, Jen Rocha and the OU fans when it’s Landry that’s out there.

The team feeds off her energy.

And Sunday afternoon was a great example. Landry allowed four runs with two outs in the top of the first inning of Game 2 of the doubleheader.

She never flinched after that.

“Can’t be perfect all the time,” Gasso said. “She gives up hits. Sometimes a home run, here and there. But when she was going into the seventh… we were on offense, I kinda made mention to her, ‘We’re gonna make a change.’ She looked at me and said, ‘Ma’am. May I ask why?’ ‘Well, I don’t know you can do it… You look like you’re tired.’ She said, ‘I can do this.’ ‘I don’t know.’ She said, ‘I can do this.’ That’s all I need to hear sometimes, so I let her do it.”

Landry is checking off one box after another. First game at Devon Park. Dealing with a road environment like Alabama. But this will be a different animal.

Texas brings the firepower to equal what OU has as well. It cannot and will not be Landry all weekend.

But who is ready? It’s time to find out.