summer senior sports reporter

Stay in the loop

Get our top OU and Norman stories in your inbox. Free newsletter sign up

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma (59-7, 22-5 Big 12) defeated Texas (55-10, 23-4) 8-4 in the Women’s College World Series at Devon Park on Thursday.

Oklahoma secured their eighth national championship against the Longhorns. Freshman utility Kasidi Pickering led the Sooners’ offense, going two for three, recording two RBIs and a home run.

Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ win:

Sooners use five pitchers

Head coach Patty Gasso made a bold move on Thursday, when she sent graduate transfer Karlie Keeney to start. Keeney had a solid start in the first inning, but faced trouble in the second.

She allowed two walks in the second and gave up an RBI single, giving the Longhorns a 1-0 lead over the Sooners.

Keeney allowed three hits in the third, with one being an RBI single. Keeney went 2.2 innings and allowed four hits and two runs.

Sophomore pitcher Paytn Monticelli came in relief with the bases loaded in the third, but forced a groundout to get out of the inning. Before Monticelli’s appearance on Thursday, she had pitched just 19 innings on the season.

Sophomore Kierston Deal came in to pitch in the fourth and slowed down the Longhorn offense. She allowed one hit and an unearned run while recording two strikeouts.

Senior pitcher Nicole May replaced Deal in the fifth and was lights out, especially when the Sooners needed her the most.

May pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning, and recorded two more strikeouts in the sixth. May walked a batter and allowed a double which led to her being replaced by graduate transfer pitcher Kelly Maxwell.

Maxwell comes in clutch

Kelly Maxwell was called to pitch with two outs in the sixth. Although she gave up a run in the sixth, Maxwell was cool and collected for the seventh.

She recorded a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and ended her career by winning the Most Outstanding Player of the Women’s College World Series.

Maxwell ends her college career on top, as the former Cowgirl stepped up on the biggest of stages for the Sooners.

Oklahoma offense doesn’t back down

After a quiet first inning, the Sooners responded in the second.

Senior infielder Alyssa Brito led off with a double, then was followed by freshman Kasidi Pickering hitting an opposite field two-run home run that gave the Sooners a 2-1 lead.

The Oklahoma offense was mostly quiet until the fourth.

Senior catcher Kinzie Hansen got the Sooners offense going with a single in the fourth. Pickering followed Hansen with a single of her own.

After senior Rylie Boone managed to get on base with an infield single, the bases were loaded for Cydney Sanders.

Sanders took advantage of the opportunity by recording a three-run double, giving OU a 5-3 lead.

Oklahoma’s offense once again threatened in the sixth.

They loaded the bases after a Boone single, a Sanders walk and an Avery Hodge hit by pitch.

Jayda Coleman was able to capitalize by hitting an RBI single, extending the Sooners’ lead to 6-4.

Freshman utility Ella Parker added to the lead with a two-run single, driving home Sanders and Hodge.

Overall, the Sooners’ offense went 12 for 28, and walked three times.

OU Daily standards

See an error? Earning trust is our duty. We correct errors atop stories. Identify an error, request a takedown or get in touch.

Independent and free since 1916: OU is committed to our editorial independence. You can help ensure our reporting remains strong and accessible to all invested in OU and Norman.

Want to comment? We value dialogue on issues we cover. On our social media accounts, we moderate disparagements, arguments and attacks, including those directed at our staff — and ban those repeatedly failing civility. The editor considers guest column submissions.