** Kierston Deal Dominates as OU Softball Evens Series Against Tennessee**
The No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners answered back with authority Saturday, riding a complete-game gem from junior lefty **Kierston Deal** to a 4-1 victory over No. 9 Tennessee at Love’s Field—setting up a Sunday rubber match (1 p.m. CT) with the series on the line.
Deal (7-0) delivered when OU needed it most, shaking off early traffic to stifle the Vols with **5 strikeouts** and just **1 run allowed** on four hits. Her clutch performance came just **24 hours after Tennessee walked off the Sooners in extras**, handing OU its first series-opening loss of 2024.
**⚾ Sooners Strike First**
After escaping a first-inning jam, Oklahoma capitalized on a Tennessee defensive miscue in the bottom half. Right fielder **Gabby Leach** lost **Gabbie Garcia’s** deep fly in the sun, allowing **Kasidi Pickering** to race home from first on Garcia’s RBI triple.
The Sooners broke it open in the third when **Cydney Sanders** crushed a **1-1 pitch** for a **three-run laser** over the left-field wall—her seventh homer of the year.
*”No overthinking—just see ball, hit ball,”* Sanders said of her clutch swing.
** Deal Slams the Door**
The left-hander was **relentless**, firing **14 first-pitch strikes** and keeping Tennessee guessing all afternoon. Her only blemish? A solo homer by Taylor Pannell in the fourth. But Deal locked back in, retiring 10 of the final 12 batters—including a **revenge strikeout** of ex-Sooner **Sophia Nugent**, whose extra-inning blast doomed OU on Friday.
The exclamation point came via **Ailana Agbayani’s** diving catch to seal the win, proving OU can win even when the bats aren’t explosive.
*”Defense and pitching can carry you,”* said **Patty Gasso**, praising her team’s gritty response.
**⏳ What’s Next?**
With the series tied 1-1, Oklahoma eyes its **fourth straight SEC series win** in Sunday’s finale. After **Sam Landry’s 141-pitch marathon Friday**, the Sooners needed this—and **Deal’s emergence as a reliable No. 2** could be the key to OU’s fifth straight title chase.
** First pitch Sunday at 1 p.m. CT | SEC Network+**
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