NORMAN —
Kasidi Pickering roped a three-run double to extend her staggering reached base streak to 15 consecutive at-bats, but No. 10 Tennessee (29-7, 5-4 SEC) responded with five two-out runs in the top of the fourth as No. 2 Oklahoma Softball (31-3, 9-3 SEC) came up short in the rubber game, 5-3, Sunday, March 30.
All eight of the game's runs were scored between only two different half innings. OU's
Sam Landry had a perfect game going until Tennessee had five straight batters reach with two away in the fourth. Down 5-3,
Abigale Dayton opened the fifth with a walk and laced a two-out single in the seventh, but Tennessee righty Karlyn Pickens closed the door in each frame.
Pickering's streak of reaching base safely in 15 consecutive at-bats began last Sunday at Missouri with her game-winning two-run home run. She would go 1-for-1 with four walks at Wichita State and started the Tennessee series by going 7-for-7 with two free passes.
Tennessee 5, Oklahoma 3
A pitcher's duel ensued in the first few frames as neither Pickens nor Landry permitted a hit heading into the bottom of the third.
Hannah Coor broke that trend, legging out an infield single before Dayton singled her to third with a hot grounder through the right side. Dayton walked and
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas turned in a great at-bat to draw a walk. Pickering stepped up and doubled to left center on the first pitch she saw, scoring all three for a 3-0 Sooners lead.
Tennessee flipped the momentum around with five two-out runs in the top of the fourth. Landry retired the first two batters she faced, but Tennessee loaded the bases with two walks and a single that rolled up the middle. Laura Mealer doubled in two with a liner that landed on the right field line and Ella Dodge hit the go-ahead three-run home run to right.
Both sides spun zeros the rest of the way with the help of errorless defense. Pickering helped keep things, 5-3, robbing Tennessee with a leaping catch in right center in the sixth.
Dayton roped a two-out single to left in the bottom of the seventh, but Pickens got the final out one batter later.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Karlyn Pickens (13-4)
Loss:
Sam Landry (10-2)
Statistical Snapshot
Notes
- Oklahoma is 9-2 against ranked teams this season and 4-2 against top-10 teams
- Pickering is on a 10-game hitting streak. She went 7-for-8 for the weekend and reached base safely in 15 consecutive at-bats prior to her final at-bat Sunday
- Landry worked two complete games this weekend
- All of OU's losses have been deficits of three runs or less
- It was OU's first series loss of the season and first loss all year on a Sunday
- All three of OU's losses have come in SEC play
- All eight runs were scored between two different half innings
- OU didn't commit an error all weekend
Up Next
OU plays its final true road midweek contest Tuesday at UT Arlington. First pitch will be set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.