OU Run-Rules BYU 13-2 to Advance to Big 12 Softball Championship Game
Oklahoma secured its spot in the 2024 Big 12 Softball Championship Game on Saturday with a dominant 13-2 showing against upstart BYU, and put the Cougars away in just five innings.
The Sooners, who improved to 48-6 with the victory, looked much like the team we’ve grown accustomed to watching blast teams off the field in Oklahoma City. Given how they looked last week against Oklahoma State, that’s certainly noteworthy.
Kierston Deal drew the start for OU and went the distance with 5.0 IP and didn’t surrender a hit for 4.2 innings before giving up a single and a home run in consecutive at-bats. In 20 batters faced, Deal gave up two walks and two earned runs and recorded four strikeouts on the day.
Meanwhile, BYU threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Sooners, going through four arms in 4.0 innings with 13 hits, 11 earned runs, and five walks.
Stellar freshmen Kasidi Pickering (2-for-2), and Ella Parker (3-for-4) led the Sooners at the plate with three RBI apiece. Hailey Marrow batted in both of BYU’s runs with her two-run shot in the top of the fifth inning.
Oklahoma has to feel great about where it stands heading into the Championship Game after outscoring Kansas and BYU 23-3 over the past two days. The Sooners will face the winner of Texas and Baylor, with the final contest of the tournament set for 6:30 on ESPN.
