OU Softball: Sooners Rally To Take Down Alabama

When the NCAA softball tournament bracket was announced two weeks ago, it looked like Oklahoma got a raw deal. The Sooners were No. 5 in the polls but—thanks to a low RPI—received just the No. 11 seed for the tournament, meaning the Sooners would be on the road for the Super Regionals.

After Friday night, it might be No. 6 seed Alabama complaining about a raw deal for having to face OU outside of Oklahoma City.

The Sooners hit two home runs and scored all five of their runs in the top of the sixth to take the first game of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional, 5-2.

After being no-hit with just three baserunners through the first five innings, the Sooners finally broke through in the sixth inning against Alabama starting pitcher Alexis Osorio. Fittingly, it was all-time home run leader Lauren Chamberlain who tied the game with a two-run blast. A sac fly for Paige Parker scored another run before Kady Self crushed a ball off the left field foul pole for another two-run shot.

The Sooners didn't do anything in the seventh inning, so all offensive production for the entire game came in the pivotal sixth inning.

Alabama had jumped to a 2-0 lead against Parker thanks to an RBI double in the first inning from Jadyn Spencer and a home run in the third inning from Haylie McCleney. But Parker proved her mettle against the Crimson Tide, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out six batters.

Parker was tested mightily in the bottom of the seventh, as she gave up a single, walk and hit a batter to load the bases with two outs and Marisa Runyon, Bama's best power hitter by a long shot, at the plate.

With a full count, Runyon fouled off a pair of fastballs before Parkers came back with a filthy changeup to strike her out and end the game.

Despite getting a bit of a bad draw, the Sooners are suddenly just a game away from a fifth straight Women's College World Series. The Sooners and Crimson Tide will play the second game of the series at 4 p.m. on Saturday.