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Kierston Deal adds another dimension for Oklahoma softball

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo05/12/23BPrzybylo

It might be going too far to call it a sink-or-swim moment, but Oklahoma softball had to throw pitcher Kierston Deal into the fire and see what would happen.

What happened? Well, the Sooners learned they have a fourth strong arm they can depend on the rest of the season.

That’s Jordy Bahl, Nicole May, Alex Storako and now you can confidently add Deal as well. The No. 1 Sooners (49-1 overall, 18-0 Big 12) begin play in the Big 12 tournament semifinals against fifth-seeded Iowa State at 1 p.m. Friday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.

Going back to last weekend, though, it was Bedlam. Oklahoma trailed rival Oklahoma State 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning last Saturday when head coach Patty Gasso relieved May and put in Deal.

It was easily the biggest spot of her young career, and she came through in spades. Deal got the strikeout. Then got to watch OU put up a four-spot in the top of the seventh, and you wondered what Gasso would do.

Stick with Deal? Or put in a more experienced pitcher? Gasso went with Deal, and the No. 1-ranked pitcher for the 2022 class came through in the 4-2 victory. All in all, couldn’t have worked out better for Deal and the Sooners.

“I think that was a game-changer for us,” said Gasso when asked by SoonerScoop.com this week. “To see her go in, she doesn’t get a lot of opportunities, but we all remember the first game she threw a few innings. It was deer in the headlights. She was very awkward and uncomfortable on the mound. You could see that.

“To see how far she’s come is what everybody was really – she captured our hearts. Watching her settle in, have command. Watching her pointing around the infield like she’s done it a million times. To get us out of that big inning was a big celebration. I think that really got things started for us.”

It was Deal’s first win since Feb. 25, and it improved her record to 3-0. It’s true that Deal doesn’t get a lot of chances, especially during the conference season. What Gasso has tried to instill into the team is just be ready when your number is called. Deal absolutely was.

“In a big moment like that, it was really outstanding to see her throwing it,” Gasso said. “She wants more. She’s hungry. You can feel it already. She’s not asking, but her look at me is like, when are you going to give me the ball again?”

Deal has thrown 22 innings this season, allowing 14 hits, three earned runs with nine walks and 26 strikeouts and a 0.95 ERA.

“Usually, freshmen take time to gain strength and they develop,” Gasso said. “And she has developed really well. Her ball moves really well. She has really good command. At practice, she doesn’t walk people very much. She can definitely be a postseason weapon for us.”

Conversely, though, not what OU opponents wanted to hear – yet another weapon for the Sooners. The present is stacked. So, too, looks like the future will be at OU.

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