OU softball 'bows' up, rallies from four-run deficit to stay undefeated, 10-9

This is what OU softball fans wanted to see. This is what OU head coach Patty Gasso wanted to see. Welcome to the SEC. You’re going to get punched, what happens after that?

What happened Friday was OU showing what is made of just a little bit. Freshmen, transfers getting the job done on the way to an 10-9 victory Friday night against visiting South Carolina at Love’s Field.

It is the first loss of the season for the ninth-ranked Gamecocks (20-1), and No. 2 OU now moves to 20-0.

“I think we’re all trying to exhale,” Gasso said. “I felt like everybody was sort of holding their breath throughout the entire night. Don’t mean our team, but that was an exciting game to watch… I just felt that we were a little uncharacteristic of ourselves tonight. But I love the battle of the staff, defense and just timely clutch hitting when we needed it.

“I didn’t know what to expect tonight. I didn’t expect that so many runs were going to be scored. But there is something special that this team showed me tonight that we can do a lot of good things with.”

But win No. 20 had some tense moments. After OU had a 1-0 lead following the first inning, South Carolina put up a five-spot in the top of the second.

An unusual, uncharacteristic five-spot. SC had four hits but took advantage of three wild pitches from Kierston Deal and two OU errors.

Gasso said it all week. It’s about the response. Show you belong here, too. It happened immediately as transfer catcher Isabela Emerling blasted the first of her two two-run home runs.

Freshman Gabbie Garcia gave the Sooners the lead with a three-run shot in the bottom of the third at 6-5. It is the fourth straight game for Garcia to hit a home run. She now has five this season.

“Right now I’m just trying to keep everything really, really simple hitting-wise,” Garcia said. “Passing the bat. Just going up and hitting a hard ball somewhere. That’s pretty much it. 

“With the signal, that’s totally an error on me. I was going literally right up to the count and I just could not find it on my card. I’m not gonna lie, I kind of guessed.”

Guessed right.

South Carolina tied it before Emerling took one the opposite field for the two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth, her seventh of the year.

It clearly wasn’t the best night in the circle for Deal and Isabella Smith. But they kept battling, and the Sooners offense continues to show a big bat.

Ailana Agbayani had three hits, while redshirt freshman captain Nelly McEnroe-Marinas had two and drove in the initial run of the game.

Hannah Coor had a diving catch in the top of the sixth and followed that with a two-run double with two outs in the bottom half.

South Carolina didn’t go out without a fight, either. A three-run home run in the top of the seventh made it as close as it can be. Isabella Smith, though, retired the next three after the home run to earn the win.

It could have been a disaster, but the leaders did what they’re supposed to do.

“I mean our leaders, they step up and they just reassure us that we’re here for a reason and that we’re going to fight and battle no matter what and we’re not going down without a fight,” Garcia said.

Up next

After a fun opener, both teams get to rest for a day. Rain and snow will be hitting Norman on Saturday afternoon, so let’s play two Sunday. The teams will meet for a doubleheader Sunday, starting at 1:30 p.m. on SEC Network. The second game will be 40 minutes after and televised by SEC Network Plus.