On a crisp Friday afternoon under the Oklahoma City skyline, the Sooners reminded the nation why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in college softball. Behind a masterful complete-game shutout from Sam Landry and a flurry of early offense, No. 4 Oklahoma (37-5, 11-5 SEC) took down No. 15 Mississippi State (33-12, 9-7 SEC) in convincing fashion, 4-0, in the series opener at Devon Park.
For a program built on championship DNA and relentless pressure, Friday’s win was vintage Oklahoma—power, poise, and pitching. With postseason intensity in the air and thousands of fans creating a regional-type atmosphere, the Sooners wasted no time putting the Bulldogs on the ropes and never looked back.
A Quick Strike
The Sooners didn’t need long to take control.
Kasidi Pickering sparked the offense in the bottom of the first with a one-out double down the right-field line. What looked like a routine strikeout one batter later turned into a costly miscue for Mississippi State, as Nelly McEnroe-Marinas reached on a dropped third strike, allowing Pickering to advance to third. That set the stage for freshman phenom Ella Parker, who ripped a two-run double just inside the third-base line. After a brief review confirmed the fair call, Oklahoma had a 2-0 lead and all the momentum.
The Sooners doubled down in the very next inning. Abigale Dayton, Oklahoma’s sparkplug in the nine-hole, ignited the rally with a perfectly placed infield single. She showed her speed again by scoring all the way from first when Hannah Coor turned on a pitch and sent it soaring over the left-field wall for a two-run homer—her first of the season.
Just like that, it was 4-0 Oklahoma.
“We came out swinging and stayed aggressive early,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “That first inning was about taking advantage of opportunities, and the second was Hannah stepping up big. It’s what we need this time of year.”
Landry’s Masterclass
While the bats did their work early, the rest of the night belonged to Sam Landry.
The junior right-hander was cool, composed, and completely in control. Mixing her pitches with precision and working the zone with intent, Landry scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings while walking just two and striking out six. She didn’t allow a hit over the final three frames and stranded Bulldogs in scoring position in the second and fourth innings, including a fourth-inning escape that saw her induce a tapper back to the circle to strand two.
The complete game was her 11th of the season—a career high—and marked Oklahoma’s 13th shutout victory of the year.
“Sam just continues to get better every outing,” Gasso said. “She trusted her defense, hit her spots, and worked through some tough moments. That’s the kind of performance we need in April and May.”
Dayton Delivers
Though Landry’s arm and Parker’s bat led the headlines, Abigale Dayton quietly had one of her best games of the season.
The senior outfielder went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, turning in her first three-hit performance of the season and 10th multi-hit effort of the year. Her leadoff single in the second sparked the key insurance runs, and she added a pair of doubles later in the game, showcasing her ability to flip the lineup from the bottom of the order.
“I just wanted to set the tone for my teammates,” Dayton said. “We talk a lot about passing the baton, and I just tried to keep that energy up. I feel good at the plate right now.”
Coor’s Clutch Connection
For Coor, the second-inning homer wasn’t just a momentum boost for the team—it was a personal breakthrough. The junior’s long ball marked her first home run of the 2025 campaign, becoming the 12th Sooner to homer this season in the process.
“It felt good off the bat,” Coor said postgame. “I’ve been working hard to find my rhythm, and to do it in a big moment like that—it meant a lot. I’m just happy I could come through.”
Mississippi State Struggles Early, Settles Late
The Bulldogs showed flashes of resilience but were unable to recover from the early damage.
Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts acknowledged the nerves that may have come with playing in Devon Park—home of the Women’s College World Series—for the first time.
“This was a learning experience,” Ricketts said. “We want to be in Oklahoma City in June, and games like this help prepare us. We settled in, played our brand of softball after those early innings, but the hole was just too big.”
Freshman Morgan Stiles reached base twice and made her debut at first base, while veteran Jessie Blaine also got on twice via a single and walk. Nadia Barbary gave the Bulldogs their best chance to score in the fourth with a leadoff double, but the opportunity fizzled as Landry dialed in.
On the mound, starter Raelin Chaffin (18-7) was tagged for all four runs in the first two innings before settling down. Josey Marron pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit.
What It Means
Friday’s win continues Oklahoma’s strong run against ranked opponents. The Sooners improved to 12-4 against ranked teams and 9-4 against SEC foes in the top 25. The victory also keeps Oklahoma undefeated in program history against Mississippi State, now holding a 9-0 edge in the all-time series.
It also set the tone for a pivotal series in the SEC standings. With just two weeks left in the regular season, every win carries weight in the race for a conference title and postseason seeding.
“We know what’s at stake,” Gasso said. “Every game from here on out is a statement, and our players are locked in.”
Up Next
After a scheduled off day on Saturday, due to weather, the series shifts to Love’s Field in Norman for a Sunday doubleheader. Game one is set for 2 p.m. CT with game two beginning approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Both games will stream on SEC Network+.
With momentum on their side, the Sooners will look to clinch the series and continue building toward another deep postseason run.
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