No. 4 Oklahoma (41-5, 15-5 SEC) defeated No. 3 Texas (42-8, 13-7 SEC) 7-2 in game two on Saturday.

Oklahoma’s win in game one and Arkansas’ win over Texas A&M yesterday moved the Sooners into first place in the SEC standings. With Texas sitting in third, Oklahoma looked to further separate itself in the rankings to secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament.

Junior left-handed pitcher Kierston Deal’s  dominant, complete performance helped lead the Sooners to victory, as Deal, backed by a strong Oklahoma defense, kept a high-powered Texas offense in check for the majority of the game.

Deal made her 13th start of the season, repping an 8-1 record with a 2.98 ERA. After senior right-handed pitcher Sam Landry’s performance in game one, a big question heading into the game was how the rest of the Sooners’ pitching staff would hold up against a powerful Texas offense. 

Deal answered with a strong start in the first three innings. Similar to game one, Deal and the Sooners’ defense held the Longhorns to three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit in the second and striking out two batters. 

B2B punchies for @DealKierston 💥ℹ️» https://t.co/Th2U6csrhI pic.twitter.com/qII2twCIIi

— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 26, 2025

Oklahoma struck first for the second straight game with a two-out solo home run from sophomore utility Ella Parker deep over the right-field wall, giving Oklahoma a 1-0 lead in the third. The homer was the Sooners’ first hit of the day and the start of an explosive offensive rally. 

Junior left-fielder Abigale Dayton crushed a ball deep to right-center field, sending game one’s player of the game, junior second baseman Ailana Agbayani, home from first and extending Oklahoma’s lead to 2-0 in the fourth.

“I think it was just allowing myself to work for my team. They’ve been picking me up the last few games so being able to produce for them was really big,” Dayton said. “(Kierston Deal) is on the mound pitching a great game, so how do you not come up clutch for her?”

Dayton’s RBI double was her first hit of the series but not her last. With bases loaded and two outs in the fifth, Dayton lined a ball up the middle which was muffed by Texas’ center fielder Kayden Henry, allowing two runners to score and pushing the Sooners’ lead to 5-0.

Abby woke up on the clutch side of the bed today ❕5-0 Sooners! pic.twitter.com/W8NNM3CHtt

— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 27, 2025

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Deal remained dialed in the circle, not allowing a single Texas hit through four more innings. The Longhorn’s offense couldn’t find an answer for Deal’s pitches, and when it did find contact, the Sooners’ defense moved quickly to make plays all over the diamond.

“Plays like that get you so fired up as a pitcher because all you want to do is just feed them ground balls, so they can make double plays,” Deal said. “You pitch so free knowing that you have a defense like that playing behind you.”

Redshirt freshman third baseman Nelly McEnroe-Marinas provided extra insurance in the sixth with a two-run home run, as Oklahoma took a 7-0 lead for its largest of the series. 

Cap’n wants in 💣7-0 Sooners! pic.twitter.com/kZE78UqzZj

— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 27, 2025

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The Sooners looked to seal the deal in the top of the seventh as a strikeout and pop fly sat down the first two Longhorn batters. However, Texas’ Victoria Hunter responded with a single followed by a two-run homer, eliminating a possible shutout before a final-out pop fly to sophomore right fielder Kasidi Pickering capitalized a dominant 7-2 Oklahoma win.

“The Sooners are normally finding their best late in the season,” head coach Patty Gasso said after the game. “To be able to do what we’re doing against Texas is a big deal to us and taking us forward to the SEC.”

The outing was Deal’s second complete game of the season, finishing with three strikeouts, four hits and two runs. The defensive performance was the Sooners’ best in the last three games, and the offense finished strong, scoring runs in each of the last four innings. 

Next, Oklahoma will look to hand Texas its first series sweep in SEC play in game three at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Love’s Field on ESPN2.

What channel is Oklahoma vs. Texas on today?

TV channel: ESPN2

Start time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Love’s Field

Notes: Oklahoma is coming off a 7-6 series-opening win over Texas. 

Oklahoma softball schedule

Feb. 6: Oklahoma 7, Cal State Northridge 2

Feb. 6: Oklahoma 11, San Diego State 6 (9 inn.)

Feb. 7: Oklahoma 8, Cal Baptist 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 7: Oklahoma 13, Cal State Fullerton 3

Feb. 8: Oklahoma 9, Loyola Marymount 0

Feb 9: Oklahoma 2, Long Beach State 0 (11 inn.)

Feb. 15: Oklahoma 8, Hofstra 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 15: Oklahoma 9, Baylor 1 (5 inn.)

Feb. 16: Oklahoma 11, Hoftsra 3 (5 inn.)

Feb. 16: Oklahoma 8, Baylor 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 22: Oklahoma 8, Tulsa 0 (5 inn.)

Feb. 23: Oklahoma 8, Wichita State 1

Feb. 24: Oklahoma 8, Bowling Green 5 (8 inn.)

Feb. 24: Oklahoma 9, Abilene Christian 1 (5 inn.)

Feb. 28: Oklahoma 9, Marshall 1 (5 inn.)

Feb. 28: Oklahoma 9, Kansas 1 (6 inn.)

March 1: Oklahoma 8, Kansas 0 (5 inn.)

March 1: Oklahoma 11, Marshall 0 (5 inn.)

March 2: Oklahoma 17, Kansas City 1 (5 inn.)

March 7: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9

March 9: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9

March 9: Oklahoma 2, South Carolina 1

March 12: Oklahoma 10, Tulsa 2 (6 inn.)

March 14: Oklahoma 7, Arkansas 0

March 15: Oklahoma 6, Arkansas 4

March 16: Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 7

March 19: Oklahoma 8, East Texas A&M 0 (5 inn.)

March 21: Oklahoma 8, Missouri 0

March 22: Oklahoma 1, Missouri 3

March 23: Oklahoma 5, Missouri 1

March 26: Oklahoma 19, Wichita State 16

March 28: Oklahoma 2, Tennessee 5 (8 inn.)

March 29: Oklahoma 4, Tennessee 1

March 30: Oklahoma 3, Tennessee 5

April 1: Oklahoma 13, UT Arlington 2 (5 inn.)

April 4: Oklahoma 12, St. Thomas 4 (5 inn.)

April 4: Oklahoma 6, UCF 0

April 9: Oklahoma 11, Oklahoma State 3 (5 inn.)

April 12: Oklahoma 5, Alabama 1

April 13: Oklahoma 1, Alabama 6

April 14: Oklahoma 1, Alabama 2

April 18: Oklahoma 4, Mississippi State 0

April 20: Oklahoma 6, Mississippi State 5

April 20: Oklahoma 9, Mississippi State 6

April 25: Oklahoma 7, Texas 6

April 26: vs. Texas at 6:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)

April 27: vs. Texas at 1 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)

May 1: at Florida at 5 p.m. (TV: SECN)

May 2: at Florida at 5 p.m. (TV: SECN)

May 3: at Florida at 2 p.m. (TV: ESPNU)

This story was edited by Josh McDaniel.

The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to take the series on Saturday against the Sooners.

The Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners are set for a pivotal Game 3 on Saturday, with the series tied 1-1 after two tightly contested matchups. Both teams have traded blows in a high energy series that’s delivered plenty of offense and drama and now it all comes down to one final game to decide the winner.

Oklahoma took Game 1 with an 8-6 win, capitalizing on timely hitting and key defensive stops. But Georgia answered the bell in Game 2, bouncing back with a gritty 10-9 victory that showcased the Dawgs’ resilience and firepower at the plate. The bats have been hot on both sides, for both the Dawgs and Sooners. 

All eyes will be on Georgia’s Leighton Finley in Game 3, as the right hander is expected to get the start. Finley has shown poise in big moments this season and will need to deliver another strong outing to slow down Oklahoma’s offense and give the Bulldogs a shot at taking the series.

If Georgia does take the series, it would provide a boost of momentum as the regular season starts to wind down. Following this conference series, Georgia will have matchups remaining against Missouri, Alabama and Texas A&M to close out the year. The Bulldogs still remain projected to host the regional round of postseason play and it would be ideal for them to stay there.

With bragging rights and momentum on the line, fans can expect an intense, hard fought finale. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET, with live coverage on SEC Network.

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Other Georgia News:

• Sen. Adam Pugh filed a resolution to disapprove the standards adopted by the Oklahoma State Board of Education, citing transparency concerns.
• Democrats previously filed resolutions to reject the standards, deeming them too advanced and politically biased.
• The Legislature has until May 1 to act on the standards, otherwise, they will automatically take effect.

A prominent Republican in the state Senate is making moves to return controversial social studies standards back to the Oklahoma State Board of Education before they take effect.

Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, filed Senate Joint Resolution 20, which would declare the Legislature “hereby disapproves in whole the social studies and science subject matter standards approved by the State Board of Education on February 27, 2025.” Pugh chairs the Senate Education Committee.

Pugh’s resolution comes after weeks of speculation about whether GOP lawmakers would take action on the standards. The standards have been at the center of controversy since they were introduced in December with dozens of mentions of the Bible. State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters later circulated a new version of the standards, featuring one section that includes requires students to learn about 2020 election denialism.

Pugh filed the resolution April 24, hours after a debate during an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting. Walters and three new board members accused each other of lying over the content of the previously approved social studies standards.

More: Oklahoma State Board of Education delays vote to clarify official record with Ryan Walters

Oklahoma State Board of Education members say online version of standards different than what they received

Board members have said the version of the standards on which they voted during a February meeting didn’t match what was publicly available on the education department’s website. In response, Walters accused the board members and Gov. Kevin Stitt of spreading misinformation about the process.

“I can’t make you read,” Walters said during the meeting. “I can’t make you do the research before you vote. But here’s what I’m going to say, and my expectation is to not have board members lie about a process and create a fake controversy.”

A spokesperson for Walters and the education department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pugh’s resolution notes “questions exist regarding the transparency of the subject matter standard adoption process.”

However, members of the Senate and House Democratic caucuses had also filed joint resolutions to reject the standards, calling the proposed subject matter “too advanced” for the agents of students and “politically charged and biased.”

Pugh’s resolution is more likely to gain traction since Republicans control both chambers. It represents the first step in the process of potentially returning the standards to the board. Two board members told The Oklahoman that this is their wish.

It is unclear if House leaders will sign on to the resolution. Hours before Pugh filed the resolution, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, seemed doubtful that his chamber would take action but said, “If we were to do anything, it would be in concert with the state Senate.”

On April 23, Stitt called on the Legislature to act on the standards and championed proposed legislation that would allow board members to add items to the meeting agenda.

That legislation, House Bill 1491, didn’t clear the Thursday deadline for House bills to be heard in a Senate committee. It was sponsored by Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and would have allowed an item to be placed on the agenda if requested in writing by at least two members of the board.

The Legislature has until May 1 to take action on the proposed standards. If they do nothing, the standards will automatically go into effect.

“The standards themselves, the Legislature, hopefully they’ll act on that,” Stitt said April 23. “I don’t know. They may punt it to me, so we’ll see.”

Contributing: Scott Carter and Murray Evans