The Sooners (48-7, 17-7 SEC) beat the Golden Bears (37-21, 11-13 ACC) 12-1 for the Norman Regional Championship in yet another five-inning run-rule victory Sunday at Love’s Field. The game featured an offensive masterpiece from Oklahoma, finishing with 14 hits from nine different batters, including four home runs.

In a double-elimination format, Oklahoma needed just one win to claim the regional championship, while Cal needed to win twice. In the program’s second-round matchup, OU won in dominating fashion, run ruling the Golden Bears 11-2 in five innings. The Sooners looked to replicate that performance in the championship game.

Second-inning rallies had been a theme for the Sooners throughout the regional, and Sunday was no exception. A three-hit, four-run inning helped Oklahoma jump out to an early 4-0 lead in the second that they wouldn’t give back.

The rally started with a leadoff solo home run from freshman shortstop Gabbi Garcia, who had a big two-run home run in Saturday’s game. A three-run home run from second baseman Ailana Agbayani added to the damage, giving the junior her second homer in the last four games.

“I’m just excited, especially since this is my first ever time being in postseason, it’s really special,” Agbayani said. “I’m just really confident in my teammates, and I think that’s what's helping me play so free, and all of us completely are just free because we are so confident in each other to get the job done.”

The Oklahoma offense has been on fire throughout the regional, scoring 31 runs over three games, coming at a perfect time as the postseason continues to ramp up.

The Sooners’ defense, behind senior Sam Landry, who made her third consecutive start of the regional, played lights out as well. Through three innings, Landry and the defense held Cal to one hit, giving up one unearned run on a throwing error.

Over the last three games, Landry has pitched a total of 10 innings, allowing only two runs. The ace is in form and geared up for a deep postseason run behind a stout defense, making it clear she can pitch whenever her number is called.

The Oklahoma offensive barrage kept firing in the fourth with a seven-hit, eight-run inning. Sophomore Kasidi Pickering continued her hitting streak with a three-run home run, extending the Sooners’ lead to 8-1.

Sophomore utility player Ella Parker blasted a solo home run that left Love’s Field to get to the eight-run threshold needed for the run rule.

“I think the first words that came out of my mouth were, ‘I don’t ever think I’ve hit a ball that far’,” Parker said. “That genuine feeling of just being shocked that I did that was really funny.”

Redshirt senior Isabella Smith and junior Paytn Monticelli made their first appearances in the Norman Regional in the fourth and fifth innings to close out the game. The duo gave up only one hit, inducing the run rule, and securing Oklahoma’s spot as a host for the upcoming Super Regionals.

A dominant outing in the home regional earned Oklahoma its 15th consecutive regional title, cementing the legitimacy of the young team and showing they are firing on all cylinders at just the right time.

“I’ve said this team hasn’t peaked, and I’m starting to feel something about this right now, and it’s pretty exciting,” head coach Patty Gasso said.

Next, Oklahoma will host Alabama in a best-of-three Super Regional at Love’s Field, May 22-25, on ESPN2 in the next round of the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners dropped two of three games to the Crimson Tide in their regular season series earlier this year. Oklahoma will look to flip the script for a ticket to the 2025 Women's College World Series.

What channel is Oklahoma vs. Cal on today?

TV channel: ESPN+

Start time: 1 p.m.

Location: Love’s Field

Notes: The Sooners (47-7, 17-7 SEC) are coming off back-to-back run-rule wins against Boston University and Cal. Oklahoma needs one win to claim the Norman Regional Championship, and Cal needs to win twice to eliminate the Sooners.

Oklahoma softball schedule

Feb. 6: Oklahoma 7, Cal State Northridge 2

Feb. 6: Oklahoma 11, San Diego State 6 (9 inn.)

Feb. 7: Oklahoma 8, Cal Baptist 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 7: Oklahoma 13, Cal State Fullerton 3

Feb. 8: Oklahoma 9, Loyola Marymount 0

Feb 9: Oklahoma 2, Long Beach State 0 (11 inn.)

Feb. 15: Oklahoma 8, Hofstra 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 15: Oklahoma 9, Baylor 1 (5 inn.)

Feb. 16: Oklahoma 11, Hoftsra 3 (5 inn.)

Feb. 16: Oklahoma 8, Baylor 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 22: Oklahoma 8, Tulsa 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 23: Oklahoma 8, Wichita State 1

Feb. 24: Oklahoma 8, Bowling Green 5 (8 inn.)

Feb. 24: Oklahoma 9, Abilene Christian 1 (5 inn.)

Feb. 28: Oklahoma 9, Marshall 1 (5 inn.)

Feb. 28: Oklahoma 9, Kansas 1 (6 inn.)

March 1: Oklahoma 8, Kansas 0 (5 inn.)

March 1: Oklahoma 11, Marshall 0 (5 inn.)

March 2: Oklahoma 17, Kansas City 1 (5 inn.)

March 7: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9

March 9: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9

March 9: Oklahoma 2, South Carolina 1

March 12: Oklahoma 10, Tulsa 2 (6 inn.)

March 14: Oklahoma 7, Arkansas 0

March 15: Oklahoma 6, Arkansas 4

March 16: Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 7

March 19: Oklahoma 8, East Texas A&M 0 (5 inn.)

March 21: Oklahoma 8, Missouri 0

March 22: Oklahoma 1, Missouri 3

March 23: Oklahoma 5, Missouri 1

March 26: Oklahoma 19, Wichita State 16

March 28: Oklahoma 2, Tennessee 5 (8 inn.)

March 29: Oklahoma 4, Tennessee 1

March 30: Oklahoma 3, Tennessee 5

April 1: Oklahoma 13, UT Arlington 2 (5 inn.)

April 4: Oklahoma 12, St. Thomas 4 (5 inn.)

April 4: Oklahoma 6, UCF 0

April 9: Oklahoma 11, Oklahoma State 3 (5 inn.)

April 12: Oklahoma 5, Alabama 1

April 13: Oklahoma 1, Alabama 6

April 14: Oklahoma 1, Alabama 2

April 18: Oklahoma 4, Mississippi State 0

April 20: Oklahoma 6, Mississippi State 5

April 20: Oklahoma 9, Mississippi State 6

April 25: Oklahoma 7, Texas 6

April 26: Oklahoma 7, Texas 2

April 27: Oklahoma 9, Texas 8

May 1: Oklahoma 6, Florida 5 (9 inn.)

May 2: Oklahoma 4, Florida 9

May 3: Oklahoma 4, Florida 6

This story was edited by Parker Coyne.

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