The Oklahoma Sooners women’s softball team has received more painful news: four of their star players decided to end their lucrative contracts, causing their head coach to cry.
The Oklahoma Sooners women’s softball team has received more bad news: their head coach broke down in tears after four of his elite players decided to end their lucrative contracts.
NORMAN—KKierston Deal’s sustained growth will give Oklahoma a significant advantage in the postseason.
In order to end the Sooners’ series against Houston, the sophomore left-hander took the mound on Sunday and delivered yet another excellent pitch.
Deal completed another outstanding performance by giving up only three baserunners over the day and striking out ten Cougar batters.
At Love’s Field, OU easily defeated Houston 5-0 to complete the No. 2-ranked Sooners’ sweeping of the Houston Texans, headed by Deal.
“Today’s pitching performance was outstanding,” stated Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso following the contest.
Deal started the game by striking out two batters in the first inning, which gave Oklahoma’s offense a boost.
It was Alyssa Brito’s second triple of the weekend, as she opened the scoring with a two-RBI triple in the first inning.
Kinzie Hansen’s walk scored another run for OU (42-4, 18-3 Big 12), but additional damage from the Sooners wouldn’t come until the second inning.
To increase the pressure on the Cougars, Coleman reached base with two outs in the bottom of the second inning after Alynah Torres and Tiare Jennings both reached on walks (23-23, 3-18).
Watch the post-game press conference for Oklahoma softball.
Her apparent line-out to Houston left fielder Lair Beautae resulted in a dropped ball after Beautae fumbled it, which gave Torres and Jennings the opportunity to score.
Although OU had two runners on base in the third inning, the fourth inning presented the team with its best opportunity to score a runout.
Ella Parker erred, loading the bases for Hansen with two outs when Jayda Coleman and Kasidi Pickering walked.
Hansen grounded out to end the threat after fouling off a fastball.
Bree Cantu’s one-out single in the fifth inning derailed Deal’s bid for a no-hitter, but the sophomore left-hander seemed unconcerned.
She answered with a strikeout, and to close the inning, she got Houston to line out. Cantu’s single was the first that Deal had given up in ten innings; in her previous appearance on Tuesday, she had thrown a six-inning no-hitter against Tulsa.
Deal remarked, “I think today was just kind of going after the hitters.” “I believe in planning ahead, hitting on first pitches, and simply having faith in my defense. I thought I might as well just keep throwing pitches and rely on my defense to win the game on Tuesday.
Parker narrowly missed hitting her eighth home run of the year in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In straightaway center, she doubled off the top of the wall, but before she could get all the way around the bases, the ball returned to play.
After the game, Parker chuckled about the close call on the home run.
In the eighth, Gasso finished off the win by sending Deal back into the circle. With no symptoms of weariness, she gave up just one single in the inning, ending the afternoon with nine strikeouts, two hits, and one walk.
With ten strikeouts, Deal matched her career-high total established against Lamar on February 17 of this year.
Pickering took four walks for the Sooners while going 0-for-0 at the bat. Parker and Brito both had 2-for-4 finishes to cap off an excellent weekend for Oklahoma from top to bottom.
On Friday, the Sooners will resume play as they embark on their last road trip of the year. Before playing Bedlam to end the regular season at the beginning of May, OU will travel to Orlando to play UCF.
