In a regular-season finale packed with fireworks, momentum swings, and history-making moments, No. 4 Oklahoma edged No. 3 Texas, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon at Love’s Field to complete a monumental three-game sweep over their Red River rivals.
It was anything but a traditional Senior Day sendoff. After racing out to an eight-run lead through three innings, the Sooners found themselves clinging to survival as the Longhorns mounted a furious comeback to tie the game by the fifth inning. But a late sacrifice fly pushed Oklahoma ahead for good, allowing them to secure the program’s first-ever three-game sweep of a top-five opponent — all in front of a record-breaking crowd of 4,609 fans.
An Early Surge
Oklahoma (42-5, 16-5 SEC) wasted no time on Sunday, continuing the offensive onslaught that had defined the first two games of the series. In the bottom of the first, Ella Parker capped a 10-pitch at-bat by sending a towering 251-foot home run into the right-field stands to put the Sooners up, 2-0.
Moments later, Gabbie Garcia delivered the first thunderous blow of the afternoon. After grinding through a 12-pitch battle, Garcia hammered a three-run homer to right-center, stretching the lead to 5-0 before Texas (42-9, 13-8 SEC) could catch its breath.
The Sooners weren’t finished. In the third inning, a combination of walks, doubles, and a passed ball pushed across three more runs, giving Oklahoma a seemingly insurmountable 8-0 advantage. Love’s Field buzzed with anticipation of a potential five-inning run-rule victory.
Texas Strikes Back
But the Longhorns had no intention of going quietly.
After being stymied through the first three frames by Oklahoma starter Isabella Smith, Texas finally found a crack in the armor in the fourth. Ashton Maloney led off with a single, Kayden Henry followed with a walk, and soon the floodgates opened.
Over the next 20 pitches, Texas unleashed a barrage of five consecutive singles, slicing the Sooners’ lead to just two runs at 8-6. Leighann Goode’s RBI single through the left side capped the six-run frame, sending a jolt of energy through the visiting dugout.
The momentum carried over into the fifth. After Mia Scott worked a walk, Katie Stewart stepped to the plate and delivered a backbreaking two-run home run, hammering the fiest pitch of the at bat 251 feet to right field to tie the game at 8-all. Stewart’s blast also cemented her place in Texas program history, moving her into the top 10 in career RBIs and tying her for second-most RBIs in a single season.
Clutch Moments Define the Finish
For two tense innings, the teams traded zeros, thanks in large part to Sam Landry’s dominance out of the bullpen for Oklahoma.
Landry (17-3) entered with the game in flux and proceeded to fan five Longhorns over 3.2 innings of relief, limiting Texas to just two runs the rest of the way. Her poise in the circle gave the Sooners a chance to reclaim control — and in the bottom of the sixth, they seized it.
After Nelly McEnroe-Marinas drew a walk, Cydney Sanders laid down a perfectly placed bunt to put two runners aboard. Ailana Agbayani, who was electric all weekend, walked to load the bases. Isabela Emerling then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing McEnroe-Marinas home with the eventual game-winning run.
Texas made one final push in the seventh, putting the tying run on base after Reese Atwood drew a walk. But a slick play deep in the hole by Garcia at shortstop sealed the win and set off a raucous celebration in front of the home crowd.
Historic Sweep, Record Weekend
The 9-8 victory capped a weekend that saw Oklahoma not only sweep their bitter rivals but do so in record-setting fashion.
Sunday’s attendance of 4,609 set a new single-game mark for Love’s Field, breaking the record set just two days earlier on Friday (4,587). Over the three games, a total of 13,734 fans passed through the gates, shattering the program’s series attendance record.
The sweep also marked Oklahoma’s fourth in SEC play — each one coming against a top-15 opponent — and reaffirmed the Sooners’ dominance in close games, as they improved to 5-1 in one-run contests.
Standouts Shine
Garcia stole the show offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, tying her season high. Parker continued her hot streak by homering in back-to-back games, while Agbayani went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, giving her six hits across the weekend.
Landry’s clutch performance in relief not only secured the win but also showcased the depth and resilience of Oklahoma’s pitching staff — an element that could prove crucial as postseason play looms.
Quotes of the Day
Texas head coach Mike White praised his team’s fight but acknowledged Oklahoma’s superiority over the weekend.
“Well, we were able to make a game of things but just didn’t have quite enough to win it,” White said. “Obviously, giving up 23 runs in three games is tough to overcome, but I was pleased with how the team was able to fight back. They worked hard, but Oklahoma was too much this weekend.”
Notes and Numbers
- Garcia is now tied for the team lead with 14 home runs.
- Oklahoma has now scored 6+ runs in 35 consecutive wins this season.
- The Sooners recorded double-digit hits in all three games against Texas.
- Texas scored eight runs Sunday — their most against Oklahoma since a 9-8 game in 2016.
- Landry’s 17th win of the season capped her most dominant SEC weekend yet.
- OU improved to 35-0 when scoring at least six runs.
What’s Next
With the sweep secured and momentum firmly on their side, the Sooners now turn their attention to Gainesville, where they will close out the regular season against Florida beginning Thursday, May 1.