Oklahoma
OU Softball: Oklahoma Shocked by BYU, in Danger of Dropping Second Consecutive Series
NORMAN — For the second straight weekend, Oklahoma heads into a rubber match needing a win to avoid a series defeat.
BYU lead most of Friday’s contest, and erased Tiare Jennings’ game-tying home run that came in the fourth inning.
The Cougars plated a pair in the sixth, and OU stranded two runners in the bottom half of the frame.
BYU then added a trio of runs in the top of the seventh.
Hailey Morrow lined out to Karlie Keeney, and as the OU pitcher fired to first to turn an inning-ending double play, she missed her target and overthrew Cydney Sanders.
Lexie Bennett scored from second, but the Cougars weren’t done.
Aleia Agbayani delivered with an RBI-double and Ailana Agbayani’s RBI-single put the Sooners in a 7-4 hole headed into the bottom of the seventh.
Patty Gasso’s team couldn’t overcome all the miscues.
Kinzie Hansen lead the seventh with a single and Alynah Torres added a one-out single, but Oklahoma couldn’t rally.
BYU closed out the contest to win 9-4 at Love’s Field, leveling the series ahead of Saturday’s finale.
The defeat dropped OU to 37-4 on the year and 14-3 in Big 12 play, and was the first home conference defeat since then-No. 15 Baylor beat the Sooners 4-3 on April 23, 2017 at Marita Hynes Field.
Oklahoma played from behind for most of the game after the Cougars (22–18, 5-12) got off to a fast start.
BYU shortstop Ailana Agbayani opened the contest with a double, and then Nicole May’s wild pitch moved Agbayani to third.
Maddie Bejarno’s sacrifice fly gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead two batters into the game.
Oklahoma couldn’t cash in on a pair of walks in the bottom half of the inning, allowed the Cougars to add to their advantage.
Keila Kamoku homered in the second inning and Lily Owens’ sacrifice fly in the third inning tacked on two more runs for the Cougars before OU steadied.
Rylie Boone’s single and walks drawn by Alyssa Brito and Ella Parker loaded the bases for Hansen with two outs.
The Sooner catcher connected with the ball off the end of her bat and it slowly rolled down the third base line, but the ball died and stayed fair.
Boone raced home, and everyone reached safely.
Kasidi Pickering then walked, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Avery Hodge flew out to left field to end the third, and Kierston Deal entered the game for May in the fourth.
A pair of doubles from Hailey Morrow and Ailana Agbayani extended BYU’s lead to 4-2, but a nice piece of clutch hitting from Jennings leveled the game.
The OU shortstop smashed a two-out, two-strike delivery to tie the game 4-4.
But the Cougars didn’t wilt.
With runners on first and third, BYU coach Gordon Eakin called for Maddie Udall to steal second base.
Hansen threw to record the out, but Hodge cut it off and fired back to Hansen as Lauren Flanders dashed to steal home.
Flanders’ hand snuck under Hansen’s glove, putting the Cougars back up 5-4.
Morrow’s single then scored Flanders from second to push the BYU advantage back to two runs.
Oklahoma had a great opportunity to respond in the sixth.
Boone singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Jennings’ walk put a pair aboard with one out.
Brito was unable to play hero, as she popped out into foul territory and then Parker flew out to left field, leaving plenty of work to do even before the disastrous seventh inning.
The Sooners committed two errors on the night and were outhit 11-8 in the game. Oklahoma did combine to draw 10 walks throughout the game, but stranded eight batters as a team as OU hit 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
BYU’s 11 hits were the most allowed by Oklahoma’s coaching staff since June 8, 2021 against Florida State in the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.
Both teams will return for the series finale at on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Love’s Field, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
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