Here’s a paraphrased version of the article:
**Left-handed pitcher Kierston Deal delivered a dominant performance for Oklahoma, stifling Tennessee’s offense as the Sooners rebounded from Friday’s extra-inning loss. NORMAN — Oklahoma responded with a strong pitching display on Saturday.**
Deal threw a complete game at Love’s Field, surrendering only one run on a solo homer. Tennessee managed just four hits and one walk while Deal racked up five strikeouts, helping the Sooners even the series.
Offensively, Oklahoma capitalized on early opportunities—Gabbie Garcia’s first-inning triple and Cydney Sanders’ third-inning home run provided enough support in a 4-1 victory following Friday’s tough loss.
“KD was the standout today,” OU coach Patty Gasso said after the win, praising Deal’s turnaround from her previous outing in Wichita. “Coach Rocha mentioned it—we all felt like we had the boss on the mound. She was in complete control.”
Deal’s strong outing was a relief for OU’s pitching staff, which had struggled recently. “My mindset was there, but it was about fully trusting my pitches and my defense,” Deal said about her bounce-back performance.
With the win, Oklahoma improved to 31-2 (10-2 in conference play), while Tennessee fell to 29-6 (4-4 in SEC play). The Sooners can secure their fourth conference series win on Sunday.
Oklahoma took an early lead thanks to a defensive miscue. Garcia’s fly ball to right field was lost in the sun by Tennessee’s Gabby Leach, allowing Kasidi Pickering to score from first. Garcia reached third, but the Sooners couldn’t add more runs in the inning.
After a quiet second, Sanders broke the game open in the third with a three-run blast off Tennessee starter Sage Mardjetko, making it 4-0. “I wasn’t overthinking past at-bats,” Sanders said. “Every plate appearance is a fresh start—I just focused on that.”
Tennessee answered with Taylor Pannell’s solo homer, but Deal locked in afterward, allowing only one more hit. Gasso stuck with her in the seventh, and she closed the game with two strikeouts and a highlight-reel catch by Ailana Agbayani.
Deal’s complete game kept relievers Isabella Smith and Paytn Monticelli fresh for Sunday, while Sam Landry—who threw 141 pitches Friday—also got a needed rest.
“This outing should inspire our entire pitching staff,” Gasso said. “They’ll want the ball next, ready to follow KD’s lead.”
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Leave a Reply