The Oklahoma Sooners win streak remains alive after a come-from-behind victory over the Texas Longhorns on Sunday afternoon. Behind the effort, Patty Gasso’s ballclub moved to 14-0 in the last fourteen meetings between the two bitter rivals. Securing a 5-4 margin in extra innings, OU’s active win streak currently sits at four.
Opting to throw Paige Parker at the beginning of the game, the senior seemed out of rhythm. Receiving a mere 0.1 innings of work, the usually consistent hurler surrendered two hits and two runs. The outing including three walks which forced the star out of the circle in favor of Mariah Lopez. Down 2-0 in a bases loaded situation, the youngster went to work.
Providing solid defense after the pitching change, the Sooners finally scored their first run of the afternoon on a Jocelyn Alo blast. The homerun from the true freshman pushed the total to 22 on the year. Back-to-back homers in the bottom of the sixth inning from Shay Knighten and Nicole Pendley officially gave Oklahoma the first lead of Sunday.
Looking to steal back a bit of momentum, the Longhorns turned to desperation. On a 3-2 pitch with two outs and a runner in scoring position, Texas recorded a single off Paige Lowary. The move knotted the game up at 3-3 to force extra innings.
In extras, UT seized the lead with a second homerun of the afternoon. Hoping to end the drought in Norman, the coaching staff turned toward the defense. Yet, it was Alo once again sending a ball over the fence to erase the deficit. Down to a final out on a 2-2 pitch, Lea Wodach saw something she liked. Taking a crack at the ball, the catcher found a hole on the left side of the field.
WATCH: @leawodach DELIVERS with a walk-off single to seal the extra-innings win! #ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/w0U6oHzJGe
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 29, 2018
With the hit, Pendley crossed home plate to seal the deal for the Sooners and the rest was history. After a weekend of rivalry games, OU now takes on another rival in the Oklahoma State Cowboys before the Big 12 Championship begins.