Sooners Hold Off Arkansas Rally, Advance To Regional Final

After destroying Marist in the first game of the Norman regional Friday night, No. 1 Oklahoma faced a bit more resistance from Arkansas Saturday afternoon.

The Sooners defeated the Razorbacks, 10-5, but it didn't come quite as easily as Friday night's win.

Keilani Ricketts picked up the win in the circle for the Sooner, but nearly blew all of a five-run lead in the sixth inning.

Trailing the Sooners 6-1, Arkansas rallied, scoring four runs with two outs. With Stephanie Canfield sitting on first as the result of a single, Andrea Sullivan homered to right center to cut the lead to 6-3. Amanda Summerford was hit by a pitch and Jayme Gee singled and both advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Devon Wallace then walked to load the bases, which set the stage for Clarisa Navarro to hit a two-RBI double to center to draw Arkansas within 6-5. Michelle Gascoigne came on in relief of Ricketts to strike out Chloe Oprzedek to end the threat.

The Sooners made up for the bad inning in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs of their own, all with two outs as well. With runners on first and second, Callie Parsons roped a double to left center to score Henson. After Brianna Turang walked to load the bases, Lauren Chamberlain cleared the bases with a double to center to put the Sooners back in control with a five-run lead.

Oklahoma had built up its 6-1 lead with two runs in the first and fifth innings and a single run the third—on a Brittany Williams home run—and fourth innings.

With the win, the Sooners advanced to the regional final, which will take place Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.