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Oklahoma

Kierston Deal comes up big, OU softball takes series vs. Texas, goes for sweep Sunday

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo04/27/25BPrzybylo
Kierston Deal6
OU pitcher Kierston Deal. (Nathan J. Fish - Imagn Images)

As consistent as Sam Landry has been as the No. 1 starter for OU softball this season, the same could be said about the inconsistency at the No. 2 spot.

Head coach Patty Gasso has said she needs someone to step up. Against Texas, well, that’s exactly what Kierston Deal did.

The junior was as good as she’s been in a while, especially in SEC play in helping OU to a 7-2 victory against visiting No. 3 Texas on Saturday night at Love’s Field.

Deal came in with an 8-1 record and a 2.98 ERA, but her season has been an up and down ride the entire time.

Great against Tennessee, not so much in some other outings. But against the Sooners rival, Deal was dang-near unhittable.

Deal’s performance meant OU didn’t need too much offense. A hit here, run there, and it would be enough. And Ella Parker delivered a monster blow, a solo home run in the bottom of the third that got everything going.

The Sooners added two more in the fourth to seize control, with RBIs from Abby Dayton and Kasidi Pickering.

Then it was back to Deal. The fourth inning a great representation of how well she was throwing. Going up against the heart of the Texas lineup (Mia Scott, Reese Atwood, Joley Mitchell), Deal went 1-2-3, we’re done here.

OU wasn’t done, either. Dayton added two more RBIs, with a single with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth. A tight game was flirting with run-rule territory.

Just takes one, and once OU gets going, it happens time and time and time again. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas put an exclamation point with a two-run bomb in the sixth. Game, series, to the Sooners.

Deal got a little help from her defense as well. With one out in the fifth, Cydney Sanders was able to execute the 3-6-3 double play, racing to get back to the first base bag in time. She did.

Deal finally slowed down a bit in the seventh, giving up two runs and three hits in the frame. But mission accomplished, complete game, huge for her and the Sooners.

Up next

No. 5 OU (41-5 overall, 15-5 SEC) goes for the sweep. Now in firm control of first place in the SEC, the Sooners looking to end the weekend with a dramatic, emphatic statement. Final game is set for 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2.

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