The Oklahoma Sooners needed only one on Friday, and now that's all they'll need Saturday too.
The No. 2 Sooners handled No. 15 Alabama 3-0 on Friday at Love's Field in Game 1 of Super Regionals thanks to Sam Landry's complete-game shutout and one swing from Kasidi Pickering. OU now just needs a win in Game 2 at 2 p.m. CT Saturday to go back to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City for the 18th time and defend its title as four-time national champion.
OU still can't get ahead of itself and start thinking about hoisting another trophy just yet, though. The Sooners also beat Alabama with Landry in the circle in the first game of an SEC series during the regular season before the Crimson Tide stole the next two to win the series in Tuscaloosa.
Oklahoma beats Crimson Tide in Super Regionals to move win away from WCWS
Landry, OU's ace, did everything possible to punch her first ticket to OKC after transferring from Louisiana this offseason. She went the distance while shutting down Alabama for four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It was the first shutout for an OU pitcher in Super Regionals since 2018.
The Sooners had just two more hits than Alabama, but made those two extra swings count. Pickering hit a two-run homer over centerfield in the third inning to give the Sooners all it would ultimately need.
Just for good measure, freshman Sydney Barker singled to right-center in the fifth inning to score Abigale Dayton and add unneeded insurance. Dayton was also who else scored from Pickering's home run.
This is almost an entirely new roster for the Sooners trying to get back to the WCWS. Landry was at Louisiana this time last year and Dayton was at Utah, while Barker was still in high school. Pickering was the only player who made a major impact in Game 1 who was also a part of OU's roster last year.
Nonetheless, the Sooners are still in the same spot after their 17th straight Super Regional win that also extended a six-game winning streak while still going unscathed during the postseason.
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