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Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oklahoma softball's Ella Parker hits walk-off home run to beat Tennessee in WCWS
Oklahoma softball's path for a fifth consecutive Women's College World Series national championship looked to include the elimination bracket. Ella Parker then changed that. Down to the last out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Parker connected a 0-1 fastball from Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens and sailed it over the centerfield wall at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to give the Sooners a 4-3 win over the Volunteers in the opening round of the WCWS on Thursday. Advertisement "Going into it, I knew our fourth man was in fire. This team has done so much. We just battled and battled and battled. Just knowing that our fourth man was with us, I'm so emotional," Parker told ESPN's Holly Rowe after her walk-off home run. REQUIRED READING: WCWS scores: Bracket, TV schedule for NCAA softball tournament With Thursday's opening win, Oklahoma continues to be undefeated in the WCWS against Tennessee. It was also the second home run of the game for Parker, who is the niece of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "I was just doing whatever to stay loose and pass the bat to my next teammate," Parker told Rowe on what she saw on Pickens' pitch. "Nothing else, just keeping it simple." Advertisement The Volunteers got to Sooners ace Sam Landry early in the top of the first inning with back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tennessee plated its first run in the inning on a passed ball that got away from OU catcher Isabela Emerling, which allowed Gabby Leach to score from third. Tennessee extended its lead to 2-0 in the first when former Sooner Sophia Nugent brought in Taylor Pannell on a sacrifice fly. The Vols' 2-0 lead was short-lived, as Oklahoma quickly responded in the home half of the inning with a solo home run to right by Parker. Aggressiveness in the third inning helped extend Tennessee's lead to 3-1, when Ella Dodge scored from second on a misplayed ball in left field by Oklahoma left fielder Kasidi Pickering. REQURIED READING: How does WCWS work? Explaining double-elimination format for NCAA softball tournament Advertisement The Volunteers had an opportunity to break the game open in the top of the seventh inning when Nugent came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. However, Nugent would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Pickens, who holds the NCAA softball record for the fastest pitch at 79.4 mph, the Sooners began their rally with Ailana Agbayani working a four-pitch walk. Agbayani was then brought around to third on a single up the middle from Pickering that got under the glove of Dodge at second base. Parker's heroics in the seventh inning staved off numerous pieces of history for Oklahoma, most notably becoming the first defending national champion to lose its opening round game since 2018, which happened to also be the Sooners. Oklahoma will now take on No. 6 Texas on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET in the "winners' bracket" of the WCWS in what will be a rematch of last year's WCWS championship series. The Longhorns shut out No. 3 Florida by a score of 3-0 in the opening game of the 2025 WCWS on Thursday.. Advertisement (This story was updated with new information) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ella Parker walk-off home run helps Oklahoma beat Tennessee in WCWS
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oklahoma softball's Ella Parker hits walk-off home run to beat Tennessee in WCWS
Oklahoma softball's path for a fifth consecutive Women's College World Series national championship looked to include the elimination bracket. Ella Parker then changed that. Down to the last out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Parker connected a 0-1 fastball from Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens and sailed it over the centerfield wall at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to give the Sooners a 4-3 win over the Volunteers in the opening round of the WCWS on Thursday. "Going into it, I knew our fourth man was in fire. This team has done so much. We just battled and battled and battled. Just knowing that our fourth man was with us, I'm so emotional," Parker told ESPN's Holly Rowe after her walk-off home run. ELLA PARKER WALKS IT OFF ‼️#WCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @OU_Softball — NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 29, 2025 REQUIRED READING: WCWS scores: Bracket, TV schedule for NCAA softball tournament With Thursday's opening win, Oklahoma continues to be undefeated in the WCWS against Tennessee. It was also the second home run of the game for Parker, who is the niece of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "I was just doing whatever to stay loose and pass the bat to my next teammate," Parker told Rowe on what she saw on Pickens' pitch. "Nothing else, just keeping it simple." The Volunteers got to Sooners ace Sam Landry early in the top of the first inning with back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tennessee plated its first run in the inning on a passed ball that got away from OU catcher Isabela Emerling, which allowed Gabby Leach to score from third. Tennessee extended its lead to 2-0 in the first when former Sooner Sophia Nugent brought in Taylor Pannell on a sacrifice fly. The Vols' 2-0 lead was short-lived, as Oklahoma quickly responded in the home half of the inning with a solo home run to right by Parker. Aggressiveness in the third inning helped extend Tennessee's lead to 3-1, when Ella Dodge scored from second on a misplayed ball in left field by Oklahoma left fielder Kasidi Pickering. T3: gettin' aggressiveLady Vols 3, Sooners 1 — Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) May 29, 2025 REQURIED READING: How does WCWS work? Explaining double-elimination format for NCAA softball tournament The Volunteers had an opportunity to break the game open in the top of the seventh inning when Nugent came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. However, Nugent would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Pickens, who holds the NCAA softball record for the fastest pitch at 79.4 mph, the Sooners began their rally with Ailana Agbayani working a four-pitch walk. Agbayani was then brought around to third on a single up the middle from Pickering that got under the glove of Dodge at second base. Parker's heroics in the seventh inning staved off numerous pieces of history for Oklahoma, most notably becoming the first defending national champion to lose its opening round game since 2018, which happened to also be the Sooners. Oklahoma will now take on No. 6 Texas on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET in the "winners' bracket" of the WCWS in what will be a rematch of last year's WCWS championship series. The Longhorns shut out No. 3 Florida by a score of 3-0 in the opening game of the 2025 WCWS on Thursday.. (This story was updated with new information) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ella Parker walk-off home run helps Oklahoma beat Tennessee in WCWS
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma softball's Ella Parker hits walk-off home run to beat Tennessee in WCWS
Oklahoma softball's Ella Parker hits walk-off home run to beat Tennessee in WCWS Show Caption Hide Caption Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady and Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens lead WCWS players to watch The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson highlights several Women's College World Series key players to watch. Oklahoma softball's path for a fifth consecutive Women's College World Series national championship looked to include the elimination bracket. Ella Parker then changed that. Down to the last out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Parker connected a 0-1 fastball from Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens and sailed it over the centerfield wall at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to give the Sooners a 4-3 win over the Volunteers in the opening round of the WCWS on Thursday. "Going into it, I knew our fourth man was in fire. This team has done so much. We just battled and battled and battled. Just knowing that our fourth man was with us, I'm so emotional," Parker told ESPN's Holly Rowe after her walk-off home run. REQUIRED READING: WCWS scores: Bracket, TV schedule for NCAA softball tournament With Thursday's opening win, Oklahoma continues to be undefeated in the WCWS against Tennessee. It was also the second home run of the game for Parker, who is the niece of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "I was just doing whatever to stay loose and pass the bat to my next teammate," Parker told Rowe on what she saw on Pickens' pitch. "Nothing else, just keeping it simple." The Volunteers got to Sooners ace Sam Landry early in the top of the first inning with back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tennessee plated its first run in the inning on a passed ball that got away from OU catcher Isabela Emerling, which allowed Gabby Leach to score from third. Tennessee extended its lead to 2-0 in the first when former Sooner Sophia Nugent brought in Taylor Pannell on a sacrifice fly. The Vols' 2-0 lead was short-lived, as Oklahoma quickly responded in the home half of the inning with a solo home run to right by Parker. Aggressiveness in the third inning helped extend Tennessee's lead to 3-1, when Ella Dodge scored from second on a misplayed ball in left field by Oklahoma left fielder Kasidi Pickering. REQURIED READING: How does WCWS work? Explaining double-elimination format for NCAA softball tournament The Volunteers had an opportunity to break the game open in the top of the seventh inning when Nugent came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. However, Nugent would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Pickens, who holds the NCAA softball record for the fastest pitch at 79.4 mph, the Sooners began their rally with Ailana Agbayani working a four-pitch walk. Agbayani was then brought around to third on a single up the middle from Pickering that got under the glove of Dodge at second base. Parker's heroics in the seventh inning staved off numerous pieces of history for Oklahoma, most notably becoming the first defending national champion to lose its opening round game since 2018, which happened to also be the Sooners. Oklahoma will now take on No. 6 Texas on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET in the "winners' bracket" of the WCWS in what will be a rematch of last year's WCWS championship series. The Longhorns shut out No. 3 Florida by a score of 3-0 in the opening game of the 2025 WCWS on Thursday.. (This story was updated with new information)
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who will the Oklahoma Sooners play first in the Women's College World Series?
Who will the Oklahoma Sooners play first in the Women's College World Series? The Oklahoma Sooners now know who they'll play first in the Women's College World Series. After Oklahoma clinched their ninth-consecutive WCWS appearance on Saturday, on Sunday, the Sooners were treated to a pitcher's dual between former Sooner Jordy Bahl and Tennessee star Karlyn Pickens. Ultimately, it was Pickens and the Volunteers who came out with the win over Nebraska, 1-0. Pickens allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out 10 to send Tennessee to the Women's College World Series. Now, the stage is set for an SEC rematch between the Sooners and the Volunteers in Oklahoma City. The two will take the field on Thursday, May 29, with time and broadcast schedule to be determined. More: Social media reacts to Oklahoma's 13-2 win over Alabama to advance to WCWS Tennessee took the season series from the Sooners 2-1, marking the first series loss of the season for the Sooners. It was the first of two back-to-back series losses in SEC play for the Sooners. But they've been hitting the ball far better since then. But the Sooners will face a huge challenge when they take on Pickens, who is No. 2 in the nation in ERA at 0.90. The Sooners will need a big-time performance at the plate to stay on the winning side of the Women's College World Series bracket and likely more of the same from star Sam Landry. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who is Sam Landry? Oklahoma softball ace leading Sooners in NCAA tournament
Who is Sam Landry? Oklahoma softball ace leading Sooners in NCAA tournament Show Caption Hide Caption Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Texas lead our favorites to win Women's College World Series The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson breaks down the top teams to watch in the NCAA softball tournament, looking at the Aggies, Sooners and Longhorns. Oklahoma softball lost nearly its entire starting lineup from last season, including more than 330 innings from its pitching staff. And yet, first-year transfer Sam Landry has played a vital role in the Sooners being national championship contenders once again in 2025. Landry, who transferred from Louisiana in the offseason to help fill the void left by ace Kelly Maxwell, has blossomed into quite the ace herself in 2025. The 5-foot-10 senior was a first-team All-SEC selection in her first season at the Power Four level, and was also named the SEC Newcomer of the Year. REQUIRED READING: Texas A&M becomes first No. 1 seed to miss Super Regionals in NCAA softball tournament The Mont Belvieu, Texas, native leads the team with 160 2/3 innings pitched this season, which is nearly 90 more innings than Oklahoma's second-most used pitcher. Landry has been leaned on in heavily in 2025, with 15 complete games in 23 of her starts. While the Sooners reloaded on offense after losing a quintet of All-Americans from a season ago, Landry's play in her first season with Oklahoma has been essential to the program's success. Here's everything to know of Landry, who Oklahoma will rely on heavily as it looks to win its fifth consecutive national championship: Who is Sam Landry? Landry is the ace of Oklahoma's pitching rotation, and has developed into one of the best pitchers in college softball in 2025. The first-year Sooner transferred from Louisiana last season, looking to prove she can compete against Power Four talent. She has done just that, throwing 160 2/3 innings so far this season with a 2.00 ERA and 165 strikeouts en route to being named a first-team All-SEC selection. Landry wasn't an unknown commodity, however. She was the No. 4-ranked recruit of the 2021 recruiting class, per Extra Innings Softball. She was also one of 40 high school players selected to play in the Premier Girls Fastpitch High School Senior All-American Game. Landry was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2024, throwing 194 1/3 innings with 20 complete games while compiling a 2.09 ERA and 165 strikeouts. She also led the Ragin' Cajuns in wins in each of her three seasons before transferring to Oklahoma. Landry has also been open about how her transfer to Oklahoma reinvigorated her love for the game. 'I loved my Louisiana teammates as well, but I think the change was much needed at the point I was at in my life,' Landry told The Oklahoman. 'I think being around a whole bunch of new girls, new coaches was what I needed at that point.' Landry was selected No. 1 overall in the Athletes Unlimited Softball draft this season, a new league with four teams competing in 24 games starting June 7. Arkansas' Bri Ellis, a finalist for national player of the year, went No. 2 overall. Landry said playing professional softball was never a thought before transferring to Oklahoma. 'Before I got here … I probably didn't have that much interest in going pro,' Landry told The Oklahoman. 'And then getting here and just falling in love with the sport again and being able to strengthen my strengths, I guess, it's really made me more interested in doing it.' REQUIRED READING: Super regionals schedule: Full TV slate for college softball NCAA tournament Sam Landry stats Here are Landry's year-by-year stats in college: 2022 (Louisiana): 20-3 record with 2.76 ERA and 145 strikeouts across 117.1 innings pitched 20-3 record with 2.76 ERA and 145 strikeouts across 117.1 innings pitched 2023 (Louisiana): 19-6 record with 2.74 ERA and 150 strikeouts across 147.2 innings pitched 19-6 record with 2.74 ERA and 150 strikeouts across 147.2 innings pitched 2024 (Louisiana): 24-10 record with 2.08 ERA and 165 strikeouts across 194.3 innings pitched 24-10 record with 2.08 ERA and 165 strikeouts across 194.3 innings pitched 2025 (Oklahoma): 22-4 record with 2.00 ERA and 165 strikeouts across 160.2 innings pitched* *Through regionals
