Epic Texas rally not enough to stop Sooners softball sweep
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite rallying from an 8-0 deficit to tie the game, No. 3 Texas couldn’t finish the job, falling 9-8 to No. 4 Oklahoma in Southeastern Conference softball action Sunday at Love’s Field in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Sooners swept the Longhorns at home for the fifth consecutive time with the victory. Oklahoma scored the go-ahead run on an Isabela Emerling sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
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It looked as if the Sooners would end it early via the mercy rule. Home runs by Ella Parker and Gabbie Garcia accounted for five of the runs in the first two innings, and then the Sooners tacked on three more for what appeared to be a commanding lead.
Then the fourth inning came along, and Texas got hot at the plate. They scored six runs on five singles in the frame to cut the Sooners’ lead to 8-6, forcing Oklahoma to cycle through four pitchers in the frame. Katie Stewart smashed a 2-run homer into the hedges in dead-center to tie it 8-8 in the fifth.
Oklahoma pitcher Sam Landry, who earned the win in the opening game of the series Friday, calmed it down after allowing Stewart’s homer. She was credited with the win with five strikeouts and three walks in 3.2 innings. The only hit she allowed was Stewart’s round-tripper.
Texas starting pitcher Teagan Kavan lasted two innings, allowing eight runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Cambria Salmon pitched well in relief but also had some control issues with four walks. She allowed one run on five hits before Citlaly Gutierrez took over.
Oklahoma won Friday’s opener 7-6, holding off a seventh-inning rally by the Longhorns, and picked up Saturday’s game 7-2. The Sooners had 10 hits in all three games and took over first place in the SEC with the sweep.
Stewart drove in three runs for the Longhorns, going 2-for-4. For the Sooners, Garcia drove in four runs with a pair of hits.
Texas (42-9, 13-8 SEC) hosts Kentucky in the final SEC series May 1-3 before the conference tournament. Oklahoma (42-5, 16-5 SEC) travels to Gainesville, Florida, to take on the Florida Gators.
