Deal Fans 10, Blanks Cougars to Secure Sweep

Sunday, April 21

Norman

1:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

42-4, 18-3

Houston

23-23, 3-18

Houston

Oklahoma

Photo by: Peyton Martin/University of Oklahoma

Deal Fans 10, Blanks Cougars to Secure Sweep

April 21, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

NORMAN – Sophomore left-hander Kierston Deal matched her career-high of 10 strikeouts as No. 2/2 Oklahoma Softball earned a series sweep with a 5-0 blanking of Houston on Sunday afternoon at Love's Field.

The Sooners (42-4, 18-3 Big 12) recorded their 21st shutout of the season with Sunday's win over Houston (23-23, 3-18 Big 12) and registered their sixth series sweep at Love's Field. With the win and a Texas victory in Lawrence, OU will enter the second-to-last week of conference play a full game ahead of the Longhorns in the Big 12 standings.

Deal starred in the circle, fanning 10 while firing her fourth complete-game shutout of the season. The southpaw scattered two hits and a walk over her 7.0 innings of work, carried a no-hitter into the fifth and did not allow a runner to reach second base. She improves to 10-1 on the season and has now won 10 of her last 11 starts.

Across Deal's last 11 starts, the sophomore has pitched to a 0.42 ERA with just three earned runs allowed over 50.0 frames. She owns a 53:10 K:BB ratio and has limited foes to a .113 batting average on 19 hits, only three of which have gone for extra bases.

Oklahoma chased UH's starter in the first inning as four of the first five Sooners to bat reached base. Ella Parker (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI) led off the game with a double and moved to third on a Tiare Jennings (0-for-3, BB, R) lineout to center. Jayda Coleman (0-for-2, 2 BB, R) walked to extend her on-base streak 32 games and stole second, then Alyssa Brito (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) launched a two-run triple off the wall in left-center.

Leading 2-0 entering the home half of the second, OU added two unearned runs to double its lead as Houston's left fielder dropped a two-out fly ball with two runners on base, allowing both to score.

Deal continued to carve through the Cougar lineup, allowing just one batter to reach through her first four innings. She allowed her first hit of the game in the fifth but quickly ended the threat with a strikeout and a flyout.

OU added an insurance run in the fifth with two away. Rylie Boone (1-for-3, R) reached on a two-out bunt single, then scored all the way from first as Parker launched her second double of the game off the top of the center field wall.

Oklahoma's five runs were more than enough for Deal. The southpaw threw 68 of her 110 pitches for strikes and induced 16 swinging strikes, working at a 61.8% strike rate and a 14.6% whiff rate.

Up Next

OU opens a three-game Big 12 series at UCF on Friday, April 26 in Orlando with a 5 p.m. CT first pitch. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as airing on 1560 AM/103.3 FM The Franchise 2.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma Softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.