OU softball vs BYU recap: Sooners run-rule Cougars to advance to Big 12 Tournament final
Coach Patty Gasso and the No. 4-ranked OU softball team will look to keep their Big 12 Tournament momentum going when they take on BYU at 5 p.m. Friday in the semifinals at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
Here's what you need to know when the Sooners (47-6) take on the Cougars (31-22):
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Final: Sooners advance to championship game
When Kierston Deal starts in the circle, good things happen for OU softball.
That was the case again Friday, as the Sooners’ sophomore pitcher threw a five-inning complete game as OU beat BYU 13-2 in five innings at Devon Park to advance to the Big 12 Tournament championship game.
The Sooners (48-6) will take on the winner of Friday’s late game between Texas and Baylor at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
In her last 13 starts, Deal is 12-0 with a 0.56 ERA, 61 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 62 innings.
Deal took a no-hitter into the fifth, retiring the first two hitters.
BYU’s Maddie Udall flied out to deep center followed by a strike out of Taryn Lennon.
Macy Simmons dropped one into right, just out of reach of the dive of Quincee Lilio. Hailey Morrow followed with a two-run home run to center before Deal retired Maddie Bejarano to end the game.
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End 4: Sooners add six to move to the brink of advancement
OU was already in firm control, but in the fourth, they broke the game open.
The Sooners sent 13 to the plate in the inning, scoring seven to jump ahead 13-0.
Ella Parker had an RBI double in the inning and is 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs.
Mid-4: Kierston Deal keeps rolling
Kierston Deal worked around a two-out walk to work a scoreless fourth to keep BYU scoreless and hitless.
Deal has two walks and three strikeouts through four, as OU leads 5-0.
End 3: Kinzie Hansen, Kasidi Pickering come through
After an infield single and an error put Alyssa Brito on second, Kinzie Hansen delivered with an RBI single off the glove of BYU's second baseman Keila Kamoku. Kasidi Pickering followed with yet another RBI single to right off the glove of Kamoku to put OU up 5-0.
Mid-3: Kierston Deal continues to mow 'em down
OU starter Kierston Deal worked around a two-out hit-by-pitch to make it through the third maintaining the Sooners' 3-0 lead.
Deal has three strikeouts and a walk in three hitless innings.
End 2: Sooners go down in order
After scoring three in the first, the Soonerss went down in order in the second with Cydney Sanders, Jayda Coleman and Ella Parker retired.
Mid-2: Double play ends BYU threat
A walk and a Kierston Deal error gave BYU a chance to break through in the second before Alynah Torres shut the door.
Torres made a leaping catch, and Cougars' baserunner Lily Owens didn't have a chance.
Torres threw over to first baseman Cydney Sanders to easily double up Owens and end the inning to keep OU's lead at 3-0.
End 1: Ella Parker homer puts Sooners in front
Freshman Ella Parker continued her recent tear, belting a solo homer out to right on a 3-2 pitch in the bottom of the first to put OU out front.
The Sooners got the next two batters on with a Tiare Jennings walk and Alyssa Brito single before Kasidi Pickering drove in two more with a single to left to put OU up 3-0 after 1.
Mid-1: Kierston Deal retires the side in order
Kierston Deal quickly got through the top of the first, capped by Alyssa Brito's catch of a foul ball just in front of the Sooners' dugout.
The Sooners have Jayda Coleman, Ella Parker and Tiare Jennings coming up in the bottom of the inning.
Pregame: Kierston Deal is in the circle for Sooners in Big 12 semifinal vs. BYU
Sophomore lefty Kierston Deal gets the ball for the second-seeded Sooners on Friday night in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals against BYU.
Deal is 11-1 with a 1.53 earned-run average in 64 innings this season for OU (47-6).
Lefty Gianna Mares (7-8, 5.89 ERA) will start for the Cougars (31-22).
First pitch is set for 5 p.m. (ESPN+).
—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer
OU softball highlights vs. BYU
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What time does OU softball vs. BYU start?
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City
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What channel is OU softball vs. BYU on today?
Streaming: ESPN+
How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here's how to stream it live)
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma softball run-rules BYU to advance to Big 12 Tournament final
