The Oklahoma Sooners' pitching was supposed to hold them back in the NCAA Softball Championship, but so far, it has them absolutely thriving.
The No. 3 national seed Sooners are headed back to the finals of the Norman Regional at Love's Field after barely even giving up a hit in their first two games of the NCAA Tournament, let alone a run. OU run-ruled Kansas 9-0 in five innings on Saturday afternoon to get to the championship game still unbeaten after thumping Binghamton 11-0 with another run-rule victory the day before.
Miali Guachino shuts down Kansas as Sooners' weakness becomes their strength in Norman Regional
OU head coach Patty Gasso, avoiding any kind of funny business early, sent out ace Audrey Lowry on Friday despite Binghamton, entering the tournament at 20-26, having the worst lineup in the regional. Lowry carved up the Bearcats for two innings before the game was obviously in hand early, then freshmen Berkley Zache and Allyssa Parker finished it off in their NCAA Tournament debuts.
Lowry struck out three while giving up just one hit in her opening two innings. Zache got to claim the win while also allowing only one hit in two innings. Parker then pitched a perfect final inning to finish off the run-rule. In all, OU's pitching trio struck out more batters (3) than hits it gave up (2).
That was against a mid-major team with a losing record, though. The Sooners should shut down that lineup with no issues, so the possibility of an inconsistent pitching staff reaching a new gear when it matters the most didn't cross anyone's mind after that performance.
The Jayhawks, though, they can hit the softball. At least until they faced sophomore Miali Guachino on Saturday.
Kansas entered the NCAA Softball Championship averaging 6.56 runs a game after getting through a solid Big 12 slate. The Jayhawks even broke a program record for most runs in a season with 361. Kansas was not just the most dangerous lineup the Sooners would face this weekend, but one of the best they'd see throughout the NCAA Tournament.
Guachino, though, made the challenge look easy while pitching all five innings. She gave up just one hit and didn't walk anyone while striking out six. Of the 59 pitches she threw in the efficient out, 49 were strikes (87.5%).
The Sooners now enter the last day of the Norman Regional on Sunday with no losses and no worries as if Timon and Pumbaa are the ones setting the tone. Lowry has a day of rest as the ace after throwing just two innings and 27 pitches. Zache and Parker will be good to go and now with NCAA Tournament experience under their belts. Senior Sydney Berzon is as fresh as can be after not getting in the circle since May 2. There's no doubt Guachino could also go out there again on Sunday if needed.
Read more: How to watch every inning of Oklahoma's journey to Women's College World Series
Despite being the 3-seed, the Sooners still entered the NCAA Softball Championship as the favorites to win it all thanks to their potent lineup. Their pitching staff, though, with the worst team ERA among all top-8 seeds, had many college softball experts and even OU fans doubting the Sooners.
The Sooners spent the first two days of the NCAA Tournament hushing that concern and seeming to have a pitching staff just as deadly as their lineup right now.
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