Oklahoma seems to be a bit deeper in the circle this season with a slew of pitcher’s providing big moments already. However, Paige Parker is still unmatched and the Houston Cougars had the task of facing her in the first game of Saturday’s double-header.
Oklahoma won the game 7-5 in an extra frame but Parker frustrated the Cougars all evening by going the distance and fanning ten batters. While the Cougars were able to touch Parker, to the tune of 10 hits and 4 earned runs, Oklahoma’s ace was able to work her way out of several jams until the OU offense warmed up.
Houston scored two in the bottom of the first and then another in the second to lead the Sooners 3-0 and the game remained that way until the fifth when Oklahoma pushed across their first run of the game. OU added two more in the sixth and after a scoreless seventh the two teams went to the extra frame.
Back-to-Back doubles by Caleigh Clifton and Sydney Romero scored two runs for the Sooners in the top of the eighth and then Shay Knighten and Fale Aviu reached on an error and hit by pitch. An Alissa Dalton single scored Knighten and Aviu came home on a trowing error to give OU a four-run advantage.
Houston added two more runs in the bottom half of the eighth but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as Oklahoma prevailed 7-5 for their third consecutive win.