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The Oklahoma Sooners softball team celebrated a thrilling victory in their Women's College World Series opener against Tennessee on Thursday in Oklahoma City. Sophomore Ella Parker was the star of the game, hitting two home runs, including a dramatic three-run walk-off in the bottom of the seventh inning, to secure a 4-3 win for the Sooners.
Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso noted the team's resilience, saying, "We're never done. You give us one extra strike or one extra pitch, and we're going to find something out of it." The Sooners, trailing 3-1 entering the final inning, rallied against Tennessee's standout pitcher Karlyn Pickens, who had dominated the game until then. Pickens allowed just three hits and struck out seven through six innings, but a lead-off walk to Ailana Agbayani in the seventh set the stage for Parker's heroics.
Parker's game-winning home run marked her second of the game, having also hit a solo shot in the first inning. Her performance was crucial in overcoming a strong Tennessee team, which had previously defeated Oklahoma in a best-of-three series in March. Tennessee coach Karen Weekly acknowledged the challenge, stating, "Obviously, that was a gut punch. I thought our team played really, really well."
The Sooners will face Texas in their next game on Saturday as they aim for a spot in the semifinals. Oklahoma has a strong track record against Texas, having swept them in a three-game series earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Tennessee will face an elimination game against Florida on Friday night.