Kierston Deal no-hits Tulsa, OU softball rolls
OKLAHOMA CITY – It’s an outing like that from OU pitcher Kierston Deal that will get everybody a bit more excited.
After a rough stretch for any pitcher not named Kelly Maxwell last week, Deal was back to her usual self. There’s just a different feeling and different results when Deal starts the game.
And when she starts a game like she did against Tulsa? Just let her finish it. Deal was rolling and never looked back in an 8-0 six-inning, run-rule victory for the Sooners against Tulsa on Tuesday night at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
Deal threw the six-inning no-hitter, not allowing a walk and striking out four. Two runners reached base, one via hit by pitch and the other by catcher’s interference. That’s it. Mow ’em up, mow ’em down in moving to 9-1 this season.
“Couldn’t get any better, really,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “Stellar, very good. Exactly what we needed right now. We had a little conversation, as a team yesterday, and KD really took it to heart and came in with a mindset of being a fighter and attack, attack the zone. You really felt that tonight.”
A crowd of 4,908 showed up for the midweek battle between the in-state teams.
There was not a hit between the two squads in the first two innings, and then OU found its groove a bit with a three-run bottom of the third.
Alyssa Brito got things started with a one-out triple. She was brought home by an RBI single from Ella Parker. Then with two outs, Alynah Torres put some more separation with a two-run double.
OU bats were either feast or famine. The feast came again in the sixth inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Cydney Sanders. Then the Sooners put the game away with a Tiare Jennings walk-off later in the sixth.
OU had some dazzling defensive plays, including diving catches from Rylie Boone and Brito. Deal was appreciative of the defensive effort.
“That was an amazing play,” Deal said. “And it’s crazy because she just acted like it was just a normal thing. You just got back up and threw the ball around and the next play, you got back another ground ball and made a great play on that too. So just having those amazing athletes behind you and those players, I know I can just keep pounding the zone and they’re going to have my back.”
It’s that kind of outing from Deal to earn the confidence and trust from head coach Patty Gasso going down the road.
And a conversation Monday that might have gotten things back on track.
“I agree 100% with what coach was talking about,” Deal said. “Buying into her process and buying into our team. And I knew that I couldn’t have pitched the way I pitched tonight without my defense. Just going in and pounding the zone. I knew it’s what we needed.”
Up next
Staying in the state for OU. The No. 2 Sooners (39-4 overall, 15-3 Big 12) will host last-place Houston for a three-game set at Love’s Field from Friday-Sunday. First pitch is 6 p.m. Friday.
