Softball: Sooners Edge Florida in Extras to Take Series Opener

The Oklahoma Sooners looked poised to let a crucial opportunity slip away on Thursday night in Gainesville, stranding nine runners through eight innings. But in the ninth, they finally broke through.

Back-to-back-to-back singles from Ella Parker, Ailana Agbayani, and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas loaded the bases with no outs. Abby Dayton then stepped up and delivered a clutch RBI single, giving the Sooners a one-run lead that would prove decisive in their 6-5 extra-inning victory over Florida.

The win puts Oklahoma one step away from clinching the SEC regular-season title.

OU struck early, as Dayton picked up where she left off against Texas, hitting an RBI double in the second inning to score Agbayani. Kasidi Pickering added a solo home run in the third to give the Sooners a 2-0 lead.

Florida responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a walk, an error, and a wild pitch by Sam Landry despite only recording one hit.

In the sixth, the Sooners appeared to regain control. Parker belted her third homer in six games, and Tia Milloy and Hannah Coor followed with RBI singles to put OU up 5-3. It was just Milloy’s second SEC hit, but she delivered in a key pinch-hit appearance.

Florida tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer from Mia Williams. Both teams missed chances in the seventh and eighth, but Coor’s RBI in the ninth sealed the win.

Parker led with three hits, while Pickering, Dayton, and Agbayani added two each. OU tallied 15 hits but left 12 runners on base.

Landry went the distance, throwing 164 pitches and allowing three earned runs while striking out six.

The Sooners improve to 43-5 (17-5 SEC) and will aim to clinch the series and SEC title Friday at 4 p.m. on SECN.