No. 2 Softball Clipped in Extra Innings Against No. 10 Tennessee

Friday, March 28

6:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

30-2, 8-2

Tennessee

28-6, 4-3

Tennessee

Oklahoma Sooners

Abigale Dayton fields a throw from Isabela Emerling for a force at second

Photo by: Morgan Givens, OU Athletics

No. 2 Softball Clipped in Extra Innings Against No. 10 Tennessee

March 28, 2025 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Sooners Drop Series Opener, 5-2

NORMAN — No. 2 Oklahoma (30-2, 8-2 SEC) rallied from down to 2-0 to even it up and nearly win in walk-off fashion, but No. 10 Tennessee (28-6, 4-3 SEC) pushed across three runs in the eighth as the Sooners dropped the series opener against the Lady Vols, 5-2, Friday, March 28.

Abigale Dayton hit her first home run since her first at-bat at Oklahoma to tie things up, 2-2, in the bottom of the fifth. Pickering roped a single to right in the bottom of the seventh, nearly scoring Hannah Coor from second base before Tennessee right fielder Gabby Leach threw her out at the plate to force extras.

Oklahoma dropped just its first game against a ranked team all season, moving to 8-1 against ranked teams and 3-1 against top-10 foes. It was also OU's first loss in extra innings after entering the game 3-0 in such contests.

Tennessee 5, Oklahoma 2 (8 inn.)
Gabbie Garcia went horizontal to rob Tennessee of a base hit before Sam Landry stranded the bases loaded in the first by working a soft pop out to Ailana Agbayani at second base.

Tennessee took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an Amayah Doyle two-run homer to left center.

Oklahoma got one back in the third inning. Coor drew a leadoff walk, Dayton reached on a bunt that dropped safely in the infield and Pickering worked another free pass. After Karlyn Pickens entered, Garcia drove in Coor with a sac fly to left.

Dayton came through with one of the most timely hits of the season, clubbing her first home run at Love's Field to tie things, 2-2, in the fifth.

Landry stayed locked in, holding the Lady Vols scoreless from the third inning through the seventh.

OU nearly walked it off on a Pickering single through the right side, but Tennessee right fielder Gabby Leach was able to make the throw to home and retire Coor to keep things even, 2-2.

Tennessee took a 5-2 lead in the eighth. Sophia Nugent hit a go-ahead two-run home run to right field and the Lady Vols added another after a single, walk and wild pitch.

UT's Karlyn Pickens held on the ninth for the win.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Karlyn Pickens (12-4)
Loss: Sam Landry (10-1)

Statistical Snapshot

Abigale Dayton | 2-for-3, HR, BB
Kasidi Pickering | 3-for-3, BB
Sam Landry | 8.0 IP, 5ER, 2Ks

Notes

Sam Landry spun a career high 141 pitches. Her previous career high was 124 against Coastal Carolina April 30, 2022.
Dayton hit her first home run at Love's Field and just her fourth career home run. Her first home run as a Sooner came in her OU debut in the season opener against Cal State Northridge.
OU is 3-1 in extra innings on the season
Oklahoma is 7-6 all-time against Tennessee
The Sooners are now 3-1 against top-10 teams this season and 8-1 against ranked opponents on the year
It was just OU's first loss at home on the year, snapping a 19-game winning streak at home dating back to last year

Up Next
Oklahoma and Tennessee meet for game two tomorrow at 1 p.m. on ESPN.