Crimson Tide Walks Off in Extras to Stun No. 2 Oklahoma and Take Series
On a night when the Oklahoma Sooners hoped to salvage a road series and reset momentum in SEC play, a freshman’s swing turned the tide. Literally.
Audrey Vandagriff, Alabama’s dynamic first-year spark plug, stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the bottom of the eighth. On the first pitch she saw, she sliced a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole, lifting the 22nd-ranked Crimson Tide to a dramatic 2-1 walk-off win and a series victory over No. 2 Oklahoma on Monday night at Rhoads Stadium.
It was Alabama’s first extra-inning game of the season. For the Sooners, it marked a bitter end to a weekend that started with a strong win and unraveled into back-to-back losses — both punctuated by offensive droughts and missed chances.
“Tonight was an instant classic,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said postgame. “Catelyn [Riley] was tremendous, and we just hung in there against a really good team.”
Landry Delivers Again
If there’s been a constant for Oklahoma in 2024, it’s Sam Landry. The Louisiana transfer once again gave her team every chance to win. Pitching for the third time in four days, Landry turned in her third complete game of the week, allowing just two earned runs across seven-plus innings, striking out five and walking none.
She mixed speeds and located well, working around traffic while keeping Alabama hitters mostly off balance — until Vandagriff’s leadoff blast in extras.
“Sam has been everything we hoped for this year,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “She’s steady, she competes, and she gave us a chance in every outing this week. We’ve got to find ways to support her better.”
In 15 innings against Alabama this weekend, Landry allowed just three runs. That should be enough to win a series. But it wasn’t — and the reasons why are becoming familiar.
Missed Opportunities Mount
Oklahoma (36-5, 10-5 SEC) had plenty of chances to break the game open. After falling behind 1-0 on an RBI double from Alabama’s Kali Heivilin in the third inning, the Sooners responded in the fourth with a towering solo shot by Nelly McEnroe-Marinas — her eighth of conference play — to tie things up.
But from there, the bats went silent. The Sooners loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh — arguably their best scoring chance since the fourth — but Riley induced back-to-back groundouts to snuff out the rally.
In the eighth, Oklahoma again put two runners on with just one out. But Riley dug deep again, getting Ella Parker to fly out and McEnroe-Marinas to ground out, stranding the go-ahead run at third.
“We’ve got to execute in those moments,” Gasso said. “We put ourselves in positions to win. Credit to their defense and their pitcher, but we need to finish those innings.”
Offensive Regression Continues
For the second straight game, Oklahoma was held to a single run — something that hasn’t happened in back-to-back contests since 2019. More concerning? The inability to deliver with runners in scoring position. The Sooners went 3-for-15 in such situations over the weekend, including 1-for-6 on Monday.
It was a familiar pattern. Of Oklahoma’s six hits on Monday, four came in the seventh and eighth innings. The slow starts — a trend throughout the Alabama series — put more pressure on a pitching staff that is still searching for a consistent No. 2 behind Landry.
JT Gasso’s offense hasn’t looked like its usual self since a five-run seventh inning on Saturday salvaged the series opener. And while young players like McEnroe-Marinas and Sydney Barker have provided sparks, lineup consistency has become elusive.
Gasso shuffled her lineup again Monday, giving freshman Corri Hicks her first SEC start behind the plate and starting Barker at first base over Cydney Sanders. Both Hicks and Barker were replaced later in the game, as the Sooners looked for any kind of offensive jolt.
“There’s a lot we’re learning about this group still,” Gasso said. “We’ve got time to figure it out, but we need to start creating more pressure earlier in games.”
McEnroe-Marinas, Agbayani Shine
Despite the team-wide struggles, a few individuals stood out. McEnroe-Marinas not only delivered the Sooners’ only run with her fourth-inning blast, but she also flashed leather at shortstop and continued to be a steady presence in the lineup. The sophomore now leads the team in home runs during conference play.
Hawai’i native Ailana Agbayani added two hits, continuing a quietly productive stretch at the plate. Ella Parker, the Sooners’ most consistent hitter overall, also posted a multi-hit night with two singles.
But those performances weren’t enough to overcome Alabama’s balanced approach — or Riley’s complete-game effort.
Riley Seals the Series
Catelyn Riley was the story of the series for Alabama. After closing Sunday’s win with 3.2 scoreless innings, she came back Monday and tossed eight more, limiting Oklahoma to just one run on six hits and escaping multiple high-pressure jams.
In total, Riley threw 19.0 scoreless innings over the weekend against one of the nation’s most potent lineups — a feat that “never happens,” Murphy said.
“She was phenomenal,” Murphy added. “She doesn’t get rattled. She believes in her defense, and she stayed aggressive.”
What It Means
The series loss is Oklahoma’s second in SEC play this season and drops them to 10-5 in conference action. They’re now 11-4 against Top 25 opponents — still a strong mark, but one that hints at some growing pains in a competitive league.
With Mississippi State looming next weekend and only three SEC series left before postseason play, the Sooners will need to reset quickly.
“We’re going to respond,” Gasso said. “This team has shown toughness. But we’ve got to get better — together.”
Up Next
Oklahoma returns to action Friday night when they begin a three-game set with No. 15/16 Mississippi State. Game one will be held at Devon Park before the teams shift to Love’s Field for the final two matchups. First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m. CT.
As April turns toward May, the Sooners will be looking to rediscover their identity — and reclaim the offensive firepower that’s long defined their championship DNA.