It was already a day of firsts for the Oklahoma Sooners, but Sam Landry nearly accomplished a first for the entire SEC.
Making their SEC Softball Tournament debut, the top-seeded Sooners handled the 9-seed LSU Tigers 4-1 in the quarterfinals during the first game on Thursday at Athens, Georgia, thanks to Landry's one-hit performance.
With the new conference, it was also the first time since 2017 the Sooners won a postseason game outside the state of Oklahoma since Oklahoma City hosts the Big 12 tournament and OU almost always secures home-field advantage throughout the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma starts SEC tournament play with win against LSU Tigers
Landry was five outs away from notching the first solo no-hitter in SEC Softball Tournament history. In the sixth inning, LSU centerfielder Jalia Lassiter hit a ball to third base that took an awkward second bounce that ultimately led to the Tigers' only hit of the day after she ran out the play.
In the end, the Sooners still advanced as Landry improved to 19-4 in the circle. Landry struck out seven while giving up one run on a hit and four walks in 125 pitches.
LSU finally got on the board in the sixth inning. Right before Lassiter's infield single, Landry walked Avery Hodge, then Danieca Coffey got on with a fielder's choice to still give LSU a runner on first with one out. Lassiter's hit then put someone on first and second.
Landry then walked Maci Bergeron to load the bases. Tori Edwards hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Coffey, but that was all the damage LSU could inflict before Landry got the next batter.
The Sooners built a 4-0 lead before LSU even got a hit. With bases loaded, Cydney Sanders wore a pitch to bring in the first run in the first inning.
In the fourth inning, Sydney Barker singled up the middle to bring in Chaney Helton. The dagger was Sanders' two-run homer in the fifth to make the count 4-0 with Landry dealing.
With the win, the Sooners moved on to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 5 Arkansas. OU swept Arkansas this season, while Tennessee took two of three from the Sooners at Love's Field. That semifinal matchup will be at 3 p.m. CT Friday on ESPN2.
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