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USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Tech live updates, score: Highlights of WCWS action in OKC
Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Tech live updates, score: Highlights of WCWS action in OKC The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Tech Red Raiders battled in an epic Women's College World Series semifinals game. Texas Tech got the 3-2 win on a sacrifice fly from Lauren Allred, who drove in Mihyia Davis from third. NiJaree Canady was the story of the game through the first six innings. The best pitcher in softball kept Oklahoma at bay until Oklahoma's final at-bat. The Sooners put runners on base but couldn't string together enough hits to take advantage. That was until Sydney Barker's third hit of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Abigale Dayton provided one more piece of Sooner Magic with a two-run home run to tie the game. But Tech responded with key hits off of Sam Landry, who had thrown 120 pitches in the game. Oklahoma's national title streak comes to an end at four, and there will be a new national champion in the world of collegiate softball. Landry got Lindemuth to ground out to McEnroe-Marinas, but Mihyia Davis got her first hit of the game to put one on with one out. Toney then got her first hit of the game, a double off the wall that moved Davis to third on the play. A sacrifice fly from Lauren Allred drove a ball to shallow right field but Sydney Barker's throw wasn't in time and the Texas Tech Red Raiders knocked off the Sooners, 3-2. Ailana Agbayani dribbled one back to the circle. Sydney Barker gets a one-out single for her third hit of the game. Emerling also hit it back to Canady, who attempted to start the double play by throwing to second. She got the lead runner, but that's all. That allowed Abigale Dayton to come to the plate with a runner on and two outs. Dayton drove an 0-2 pitch to the right-center field bleachers for the game-tying two-run home run. It was just her third home run of the season. Landry retired the first two Red Raiders she faced, forcing ground ball outs. She looked like she might get out of the inning with a third ground ball, but Gabbie Garcia's throw pulled Sanders off the bag at first. However, Landry induced a ground ball back to the circle which she calmly collected to throw to first for the final out and keep Oklahoma within striking distance. Ella Parker gets the lead-off single. Gabbie Garcia struggled with Canady's off-speed stuff and struck out again. McEnroe-Marinas flied out to center on the first pitch she saw. Cydney Sanders fouled off several pitches to stay alive in the at-bat but looked at a change-up down the middle for strike three. Canady survived the lead-off single to keep the Sooners off the scoreboard. Landry retired the first batter on a strikeout looking. Cydney Sanders couldn't corral a hard-hit ground ball to first, allowing Toney to reach on an error. A single through the left side of the infield put runners on first and second with one out for NiJaree Canady. On a 1-2 count, Landry induced a groundball that the Sooners turned for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Sydney Barker has been all bite in this one, attacking the first pitch of the inning, one well on the inside for a bloop single. Emerling popped out for the first out of the inning, and Dayton took Canady to the warning track for the second out of the inning. The Sooners are making good contact, but can't string enough together to do any damage. Landry allowed a lead-off double to Johsnon to open the frame and Logan Halleman laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to third. Landry responded by striking out Victoria Valdez and Lindemuth to end the inning. Landry's pitching well, now she just needs some help from the offense. Gabbie Garcia attempted a bunt to start off the frame, but it skirted just foul. Ultimately, she had a hard time laying off the rise ball, and Canady struck her out. McEnroe-Marinas came up first-pitch swinging and popped out to the first baseman in foul territory. Cydney Sanders has been the only offense going for Oklahoma. After a walk in the second inning, Sanders was hit by a pitch. Ailana Agbayani had a chance to beat out an infield single after the grounder was bobbled by the first baseman, but she couldn't beat out the diving Allred to keep the inning alive. Landry forced the lead-off hitter to ground out to Sanders at first but then issued a walk to Allred. Landry got Canady to pop out to shallow center field. Ailana Agbayani made a great play, going back on the ball from second base to record the out. Langeliers worked a full count, but Landry got her to fly out to center field for the final out of the inning. Abigale Dayton came out aggressive and fouled a few pitches off but hit a long fly ball to left field for the first out of the inning. Pickering got a good piece of the ball and launched it just shy of the warning track for the second out of the inning. Ella Parker swung at a rise ball out of the zone for strike three. Canady is dealing, and Oklahoma hasn't had an answer. Landry struck out Alexa Langeliers on three pitches and was ahead in the count against Alana Johnson, but Johnson worked a 10-pitch walk. Then the Red Raiders got aggressive. Demi Elder came up first pitch swinging and lined a ball down the right field line for a triple, scoring Johnson from first. After a fly out to left for the second out of the game, Bailey Lindemuth lined one up the middle for an RBI single to make it 2-0 Texas Tech. After two stolen bases put a runner on third with two outs, Landry took care of business to end the inning with a strikeout, but the damage was done. Now, it's up to the lineup to respond. Texas Tech is 46-5 when scoring first in 2025. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas hit a short pop-up to second base for the first out after working a 3-1 count. Cydney Sanders showed her trademark patience and worked a walk for the Sooners' first baserunner of the game. Ailana Agbayani struck out on a 2-2 count. True freshman Sydney Barker got fought off an 0-2 rise ball and punched it into center field for the two-out single and moved Sanders over to third in the process. Isabela Emerling had an opportunity with runners at the corners and hit a soft liner up the middle that was snagged by the Toney at short. Oklahoma's struggles with runners on base and runners in scoring position continue. The Sooners will need to find some timely hitting when they get opportunities with runners on. Sam Landry came out attacking and got Mihyia Davis to swing and miss at a low change-up for the first out of the inning. Landry worked an 0-2 count against the No. 2 hitter, Hailey Toney, but Toney showed a lot of patience, laying off four straight pitches to work the one-out walk. Lauren Allred also fell behind in the count but battled to work to a full count before hitting a pop fly to Pickering for the second out in the inning. Toney took second after a ball in the dirt with Canady at the plate. Though Landry fell behind in the count, she worked back to a full count against Canady and got her to ground to Garcia at short, and Cydney Sanders easily handled the bouncer at first for the final out. Landry threw 28 pitches in the opening frame. She'll need to find some more efficiency. Kasidi Pickering led off the game for the Sooners and couldn't make contact off of Canady, striking out looking as she watched a change-up. Ella Parker found the ball better than Pickering did, but a check swing made contact with the ball, and it dribbled right in front of the catcher, who threw Parker out at first. True freshman Gabbie Garcia came up swinging against Canady and fouled off a couple of pitches but struck out to end the inning. Sam Landry will be in the circle for the Oklahoma Sooners and the top of the lineup remains the same. Sydney Barker drops back in the order and will start in right field. NiJaree Canady will get the start for the Red Raiders and bat cleanup. The lineups are set, and first pitch is right around the corner. Watch Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech live on Fubo What channel is Oklahoma-Texas Tech on today? TV Channel: ESPN Livestream: Fubo, ESPN+ Watch Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech live on ESPN+ Oklahoma-Texas Tech time today Date: Monday, June 2, 2025 Start time: 6 p.m. CT. Game two at 8:30 p.m. CT if OU wins the first game. More: Everything Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said after OU beat Oregon in the WCWS Oklahoma Softball Schedule 2025 Date Opponent Result Feb. 6 Cal State Northridge W, 7-2 Feb. 6 at San Diego State W, 11-6 (9 inn.) Feb. 7 California Baptist W, 8-0 (5 inn.) Feb. 7 Cal State Fullerton W, 13-3 Feb. 8 Loyola Marymount W, 9-0 Feb. 9 at Long Beach State W, 2-0 (11 inn.) Feb. 15 Hofstra W, 8-0 (5 inn.) Feb. 15 at No. 23/24 Baylor W, 9-1 (5 inn.) Feb. 16 Hofstra W, 11-3 (5 inn.) Feb. 16 at No. 23/24 Baylor W, 8-0 (5 inn.) Feb. 22 Tulsa W, 8-0 (5 inn.) Feb. 23 Wichita State W, 8-1 Feb. 24 Bowling Green W, 8-5 (8 inn.) Feb. 24 Abilene Christian W, 9-1 (5 inn.) Feb. 28 Marshall W, 9-1 (5 inn.) Feb. 28 Kansas W, 9-1 (6 inn.) March 1 Kansas W, 8-0 (5 inn.) March 1 Marshall W, 11-0 (5 inn.) March 2 Kansas City W, 17-1 (5 inn.) March 7 No. 10/11 South Carolina W, 10-9 March 9 No. 10/11 South Carolina W, 10-9 March 9 No. 10/11 South Carolina W, 2-1 March 12 at Tulsa W, 10-2 (6 inn.) March 15 at No. 15/12 Arkansas W, 7-0 March 15 at No. 15/12 Arkansas W, 6-4 March 16 at No. 15/12 Arkansas W, 10-7 March 19 East Texas A&M W, 8-0 (5 inn.) March 21 at Missouri W, 8-0 (5 inn.) March 22 at Missouri L, 3-1 March 23 at Missouri W, 5-1 March 26 at Wichita State W, 19-16 March 28 No. 10/9 Tennessee L, 5-2 March 29 No. 10/9 Tennessee W, 4-1 March 30 No. 10/9 Tennessee L, 5-3 April 1 at UT-Arlington W, 13-2 (5 inn.) April 4 St. Thomas W, 12-4 (5 inn.) April 4 UCF W, 6-0 April 5 UCF Cancelled April 9 Oklahoma State (Devon Park, OKC) W, 11-3 (5 inn.) April 12 at Alabama W, 5-1 April 13 at Alabama L, 6-1 April 14 at Alabama L, 2-1 April 18 Mississippi State (Devon Park, OKC) W, 4-0 April 19 Mississippi State (Devon Park, OKC) W, 6-5 April 20 Mississippi State (Devon Park, OKC) W, 9-6 April 25 Texas Longhorns W, 7-6 April 26 Texas Longhorns W, 7-2 April 27 Texas Longhorns W, 9-8 May 1 at Florida W, 6-5 May 2 at Florida L, 9-4 May 3 at Florida L, 6-4 May 6-10 SEC Tournament Athens, Ga. May 8 vs. LSU W, 4-1 May 9 vs. Arkansas W, 8-6 May 10 vs. Texas A&M Canceled May 16-18 NCAA Regionals Norman, Okla. May 16 vs. Boston W, 8-0 (5 inn.) May 17 vs. Cal W, 11-2 (5 inn.) May 18 vs. Cal W, 12-1 (5 inn.) May 23-25 NCAA Super Regionals Norman, Okla. May 23 vs. Alabama W, 3-0 May 24 vs. Alabama W, 13-2 (5 inn.) May 29-June 6 Women's College World Series Oklahoma City, Okla. May 29 vs. Tennessee W, 4-3 May 31 vs. Texas L, 4-2 June 1 vs. Oregon W, 4-1 June 2 vs. Texas Tech 6 p.m. CT June 2 *vs Texas Tech 9:30 p.m. CT *denotes if necessary We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) 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
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sam Landry guts out complete game to give Oklahoma chance at Sooner Magic
Sam Landry guts out complete game to give Oklahoma chance at Sooner Magic The Oklahoma Sooners ability to come through in clutch situations is something to marvel at. They're never out of a game until the final out has been recorded. When Ella Parker's blast to centerfield cleared the fence, Sooner Nation erupted while the rest of the softball world sighed in disbelief that the Sooners pulled off the incredible again. But that doesn't happen without a resilient pitching effort from Sam Landry. Landry showed her mettle throughout Oklahoma's 4-3 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. After allowing two earned runs in the first inning, she buckled down and held Tennessee to just one unearned run over the final six innings. Tennessee found ways to get on base, but Landry found ways to keep them from extending their 3-1 lead late in the game, thanks to some fantastic defense behind her. Landry never let the game get away from the Sooners. If not for her efforts going toe-to-toe with SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens, the Sooners may not have a chance for Ella Parker's magical moment in the bottom of the seventh inning. Though head coach Patty Gasso and assistant coach Jennifer Rocha had conversations about making a change, Landry responded the right way throughout the game. "Sam just was falling behind in counts, so we were talking a bit," Gasso said. "But she kept getting outs. Started getting more groundball outs for us later in the game. Conversations with her is just steady. Steady. Stay steady. Stay with it. 'How are you feeling?' 'Oh, I get so mad at myself.' 'Ok, bring it back. Bring it back.' Again, pitchers don't want to let down their team. It's emotions. Pitchers deal with a lot. They deal with a lot of that emotion, high and lows. She gutted it out today." It was an emotional, pressure-packed game against a really good Tennessee Volunteers game that never took their foot off the gas. But Landry and the Oklahoma defense had an answer for everything the Vols threw at them over the final few innings. "Not every pitch is going to go my way, but this team is amazing in everything they do," Landry said after the game. "I trust them. I was telling Nelly (McEnroe-Marinas) before the game - she's not in here - but I was just like 'I just have a feeling about this game. Something is going to happen.' Double plays. Ella's hit. Two home runs. Just something about it. I knew if I stayed locked in, they were going to come around. I just kept them where I could." Landry's efforts, with a lot of help from the defense, kept the game within striking distance for a Sooners offense that always has a chance to make something special happen until the final out is recorded. And it can't be understated how important Thursday's win was for the Sooners. It allows them a day off before they play the Texas Longhorns in the winner's bracket of the Women's College World Series. It allows Landry a recovery day after throwing 139 pitches in her complete game effort. The road ahead is still a difficult one, but it would have been even more difficult with a loss. 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
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What OU players Ella Parker, Kasidi Pickering and Sam Landry said after beating Tennessee
What OU players Ella Parker, Kasidi Pickering and Sam Landry said after beating Tennessee They call it Sooner Magic. And it was floating around Oklahoma City on Thursday. The Oklahoma Sooners rallied to a 4-3 win over Tennessee in their first game of the Women's College World Series thanks to a two-out, three-run, walk-off home run by Ella Parker. Parker, outfielder Kasidi Pickering, and pitcher Sam Landry took the dais with coach Patty Gasso after the game to field questions. Here's what the players had to say. More: Everything Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said after Sooners beat Tennessee in WCWS Parker on game-winner "Just understanding just to keep passing the bat. I wasn't trying to make any moment too big. I thought all of our batters before that did a good job of staying loose in the moment and not letting the moment get too big. Honestly, I looked at Maya Bland and she said, 'God's got you.' He's our fourth man in the fire. I just stuck with it, ran with it, and we kept the faith until the end. " Pickering on single that kept the inning alive "Throughout my whole at-bat, I was just 'Pass the bat. Pass the bat. Don't go outside yourself. Ella will have you back.' That was just what got me into it. " More: Social media reacts to Ella Parker's walk-off home run to fuel Oklahoma win Landry on her defense "We work on double plays all the time, so they're fun to turn in the game. They're definitely a momentum changer. Just having them there to change the momentum, keep it on our side. Basically, the whole game was kind of on their side. So when we could take those moments and get it back in our dugout, it was a win." Parker on the feeling after the homer "I honestly don't really remember the first pitch. I just remember rounding the bases with my team's arms wide open and starting to get teary-eyed and really emotional. It was just really, really cool to have them with us this whole time. We never got out of it. We kept the faith until the end. Just being able to run into them was, like, really, really, really awesome." Landry on sticking with it when trailing "Not every pitch is going to go my way, but this team is amazing in everything they do. I trust them. I was telling Nellie before the game - she's not in here - but I was just like 'I just have a feeling about this game. Something is going to happen.' Double plays. Ella's hit. Two home runs. Just something about it. I knew if I stayed locked in, they were going to come around. I just kept them where I could." Parker on athletes who inspire her "I just think it was really cool to have all those players I looked up to either in the dugout with me or right against the fence in the front row. I think I looked at Jocey that last at-bat. … Being able to finally be that, it makes me really passionate about what's to come for our future and being able to pass that to our future." Parker on the personal difficulty of the season "Just learning more to invest in my teammates. I know my teammates have my back and I know I have theirs. … Just being able to have them and know that they're my backbone is something I started to learn a lot more about." Three players on Sooner Magic Pickering: "We're just so invested in each other and just knowing you're never out. Like coach was saying, if there's one pitch left, just knowing we can take the game over. Even going to the seventh, Sam kept us in the game the whole time." Parker: "It's just keeping the faith, like Kas said. Just knowing that we're never out of it until it's over." Landry: "Sooner Magic travels. … I think a lot of the Sooner Magic comes from the people out there supporting us. We're able to keep that with our team and give the glory to God." Parker on having her family in attendance "My family is my No. 1 support system. I started playing because my older sister played and I wanted to be exactly like her. Being able to have that moment and share that moment with them is so awesome to me." Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media reacts to Ella Parker's walk-off home run to fuel Oklahoma win
Social media reacts to Ella Parker's walk-off home run to fuel Oklahoma win Sooner Magic is alive and well in the 2025 Women's College World Series. Down to their final out of the game against one of the best pitchers in college softball, Ella Parker stepped up to the plate with runners on first and third. Karlyn Pickens delivered a first-pitch strike. But the second pitch didn't get by Parker, who drove the offering to straightaway center field for the three-run, walk-off home run. It was another moment for the history books after the Sooners struggled with runners on base throughout the game. Pickens kept the Oklahoma lineup off-balance throughout, aside from Parker's two home runs. Not to be lost in the magical moment was the perseverance of Sam Landry, who continued to battle throughout the game. Tennessee pushed her, but she never gave in, allowing just two earned runs, both of which came in the first inning. The third run came on a fly ball that would have ended the third inning. Also huge? The Sooners get a day off before they have to play the Texas Longhorns on Saturday in the winner's bracket. A loss, and OU would have had to play on Friday in an elimination game. But Sam Landry and Ella Parker wouldn't let the Oklahoma Sooners start the WCWS off on the wrong foot. It was the home run heard around the world on Thursday afternoon, and here's how social media reacted to the win. Ella Parker Magical Moment Hear it from the Voice of the Sooners Another great angle of the moment Unbelievable The Legend Reacts That's the Tweet The Vibes are Immaculate Incredible Game Maybe don't pitch to her? Oklahoma vs. The World The Debate that Rages on Never Count Them Out How do they do it every year? The WCWS runs through OU How do they keep doing it? You can't stop them Softball is not happy right now An incredible moment Sorry, not sorry Inspired by the GOAT Breaking Trends QB1 reacts 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
01-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma QB John Mateer not over SEC football snubbing him -- and they'll pay for it
Oklahoma QB John Mateer not over SEC football snubbing him -- and they'll pay for it Show Caption Hide Caption John Mateer growing relationships with Deion Burks, Javonnie Gibson OU football QB John Mateer growing relationships with WRs Deion Burks, Javonnie Gibson Somebody's going to pay, John Mateer promises. Maybe even all of 'em. For the love of all things Oklahoma, pump that Crimson and Cream attitude, that Sooner Magic bravado, deep into the veins of the suddenly stale program. They've hitched their immediate future to this straight-shooting, no frills, uber-talented quarterback with something to prove. To the quarterback no one wanted out of high school, whose football path unceremoniously unfolded from tiny Central Arkansas, to Washington State ― to now you're all going to pay. Every last one of you who passed on him. 'I'm from the south, and all of these SEC teams recruit the south,' Mateer told USA TODAY Sports. 'So I guess they all passed on me.' He pauses for a moment, understanding the enormity of the statement and how it will land in an SEC world where it's not religion, it's your very existence. 'Even Oklahoma passed on me,' Mateer continues. 'So now it's great. It's all on the schedule. There's a couple (teams) here and there that really make me mad. I'm not over it.' This is the future of Oklahoma football, everyone. It's equal parts Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward (more on that later), and embattled Sooners coach Brent Venables. In one season as a starter at Washington State, Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 TDs, and rushed for 826 yards and 15 TDs. No wonder Venables threw a load of NIL money at his spirit animal. Show change, be change, as Venables likes to preach. 'His intensity, his focus is off the charts,' Venables said. But this isn't a story of chasing NIL dollars. Mateer was happy at Washington State, loved his coaches and teammates and the bucolic yet quirky town in Eastern Washington. He played high school football in Texas against Ashton Jeanty, who like Mateer was ignored by power conference schools until he showed out. He knew Jeanty turned down a large NIL payday to stay at Boise State and build a legacy ― then went out and did it. It wasn't easy for Mateer to walk away from the one program that gave him an opportunity to play Bowl Subdivision football, that plucked him from a commitment to Central Arkansas and told him he would sit and learn behind another rags to (money) bags story named Ward. Mateer waited two seasons, and got his first opportunity to start in 2024. Three months later and after accounting for 44 touchdowns – a bigger and better season than anything Ward produced in Pullman – Cougars coach Jake Dickert knew what was next. 'He'll be the most sought-after player in the transfer portal,' Dickert said. It is here where we connect the dots, and explain the subtleties of player procurement in the current environment of college football. Two days after Washington State lost to Wyoming in the season final, Venables hired Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Two weeks later, Mateer was on the phone with Mayfield trying to make a decision: sign with Oklahoma, or get an early start on learning a pro offense by signing with the guy who has six Super Bowl rings — and just happened to coach the greatest quarterback of all. While a nice perk, NIL cash had nothing to do with it. The decision came down to what Mateer knew and was comfortable with, and what could be with Bill Belichick at North Carolina. He got a nudge. 'Baker told me it wasn't a big problem going from the Air Raid to the pro game. Similar concepts,' Mateer said, and then laughed. 'But I'm sure he wasn't biased at all.' Not long after that, Mateer was in the football facility at Oklahoma with a group of other first-timers from the transfer portal and early freshmen enrollees. They were going through orientation, and shuffling through stations while the rest of the team had begun offseason training. When Mateer arrived at Oklahoma, safeties coach Brandon Hall told him a good quarterback gives everyone in the building hope. On the first day of workouts, when Mateer barely knew anyone's name or story, his new teammates pushed him to the front of the line on the first run. Show change, be change. 'That meant a lot to me,' Mateer said. 'They wanted someone to come in and take charge.' Want to know why it all fell apart for the Sooners in their first season in the SEC, why only an upset of Alabama in November prevented the worst conference record in nearly 100 years? Because when Oklahoma moved on from quarterback Dillon Gabriel after the 2023 season – depending on whom you ask, Gabriel was either forced out or left on his own – for hotshot bluechip recruit Jackson Arnold, everything changed. The offense struggled to score points, and more important, lost its attacking identity. A multitude of injuries didn't help, but it was clear that Arnold – benched midway through the season – wasn't the answer. It took two days for Venables to change course with Arbuckle, who helped Oklahoma land Mateer, who now helps Arbuckle with the offense install during spring practice. And now the Sooners are staring at a Cam Ward-type impact in 2025. "It's not for me to look at this as I'm the savior of a program.' Mateer said. 'I don't get caught up in that. Success is winning games.' Yeah, well, it doesn't hurt to prove a point and make others pay along the way. Just ask the last quarterback from Texas who arrived in Norman with a 10-gallon chip on his shoulder. If it looks like Mayfield and sounds like Mayfield, OU can only hope it plays out like Mayfield. 'Hopefully,' Mateer said, 'Everybody will be paying for it.' Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.
