OU softball takes care of business, time for SEC play

If you were looking for an opportunity for OU softball, this was your weekend. The Sooners came into the Omni Classic as heavy, heavy favorites.

And they played that way all weekend. Five games, five run-rule victories. It was expected No. 2 OU would roll visiting Kansas City, but it’s a step up and lesson learned from last week. That’s something head coach Patty Gasso can take out of the weekend, for sure.

The Sooners wasted no time and never let up on their way to a 17-1 victory (5 innings) Sunday afternoon.

OU is now 19-0 and begins SEC play against fellow undefeated South Carolina. The Gamecocks just made their biggest impression of the season with a three-game sweep of top-10 Duke. They closed that out with a 12-7 victory Sunday.

The Sooners scored five in the first, six in the second and five in the third, leaving no doubt. It was a banner afternoon for catcher Isabela Emerling.

Every time she was up, brought somebody home. Started with an RBI single, then hit her second grand slam of the season and punctuated it with a two-run single. Add it all up? Seven RBIs to give her 18 for the season.

Pitching by committee in this one, especially after the way it started. Isabella Smith threw two scoreless innings before letting Kierston Deal, Paytn Monticelli and Audrey Lowry finish things off. They each threw a frame, with Lowry allowing a two-out home run in the fifth.

Freshman Sydney Barker continued her solid initial month of her career. Moving from right field to first base during the course of the game, too. Barker drove in three runs.

The third inning also marked the first appearance from junior Hannah Coor since the initial weekend of the season. She wasted no time with a two-run single to make it 16-0.

Tia Milloy and Gabbie Garcia each added solo home runs.

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