With its back against the wall, Oklahoma needed to get a win against Mississippi State in Game 2 of the Norman Super Regional in order to force a winner-take-all Game 3. It felt as though Oklahoma needed more than just a win; they needed a statement win to show the Sooners are still a team to be reckoned with.
This has not been the season many are accustomed to from Oklahoma. With nine losses on the season, the Sooners have shown to be human, but that doesn't mean a National Championship is out of reach. After a phenomenal Regional round, there was the expectation that the Sooners would just cruise through Supers, but the Bulldogs had other plans.
The 11-9 loss felt like the wake-up call Oklahoma needed in Game 1, and Game 2 was a completely different feel. There was a feeling like this Oklahoma team wasn't going to go down like this, and a seven-run third inning proved that. Head coach Patty Gasso even showed complete faith in her full team when putting in freshman pinch hitter Lexi McDaniel.
McDaniel ended up smashing a three-run bomb that capped off the seven-run third inning, and it felt like this was the Sooners' team everyone recognized, and they were able to take down the Bulldogs 7-1 in the end.
“She can swing like nobody’s business,” Gasso said of McDaniel. “I mean, she never gets cheated. She’s always waiting for the moment, and she knows she’s going to get one of those moments - she’s very confident and ready for it. It’s always fun to see her come in in a big moment because it doesn’t rattle her.”
The future is bright with Oklahoma's young players shining in big moments
Lexi McDaniel is just one young player for Oklahoma who has shone this season. Everyone knows what freshman catcher Kendall Wells can do with her 39 home runs on the season, along with a .362 batting average, 64 hits, and 88 RBIs. However, Wells is not the only freshman contributing in a big way to the Sooners.
Wells is joined by McDaniel, who has been used more in a pinch-hitting role this season, but also Kai Minor, who is batting .449 on the season with 83 hits, 11 home runs, and 45 RBIs. There is also Allyssa Parker, who is batting .328 on the season with 29 hits, 11 home runs, and 26 RBIs, who is also in a more limited role this season.
The young talent is what keeps Oklahoma such a relevant team, as Gasso continues to bring in top talent year in and year out. McDaniel's hit against Mississippi State is just another example of the talent Gasso has an eye for and will probably be able to build a bigger role for her in the years to come.
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