Sam Landry, Kasidi Pickering lead Oklahoma to game 1 win over Alabama

The Oklahoma Sooners (49-7) took game one from the Alabama Crimson Tide 3-0 and are one win away from advancing to the Women’s College World Series. Sam Landry threw a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and striking out five to move to 23-4 on the season.

Oklahoma’s bats provided just enough offense in this one as Kasidi Pickering joined Gabbie Garcia atop the Sooners’ home run leaderboard with her 18th home run of the season. It was Pickering’s 10th home run in her NCAA Tournament career, spanning just 45 at-bats.

The home run came in the bottom of the third after Abigale Dayton’s lead-off walk. Pickering swung at the first pitch from Alabama starter Jocelyn Briski to give Oklahoma the lead. With Landry dealing, that’s all the offense the Sooners would need but they got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth from freshman Sydney Barker drove in Dayton, who doubled to start off the inning.

Landry only allowed one Alabama hitter to reach third base throughout the game. That came in the top of the fifth inning when Lauren Johnson advanced to third on a fly ball. Oklahoma’s ace proceeded to strike out Alabama slugger Kali Heivilin, who was batting .373 with 14 home runs on the season.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the Oklahoma Sooners, dating back to the final day of the regular season. They beat LSU and Arkansas in the SEC tournament and then swept through the Norman Regional.

With a win over Alabama on Saturday, the Sooners can clinch their ninth-straight Women’s College World Series berth. A loss to the Crimson Tide will force a game three on Sunday. Saturday’s game begins at 2 p.m. CT at Love’s Field in Norman.

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