Katie Stewart hits a thrilling two-run walk-off bomb to left field against Lowry and the Sooners. Texas gets a major 8-6 home win on Sunday
AUSTIN, Texas - It was a back and forth contest in Sunday's series finale between Oklahoma and Texas, but the bats were flying just a little more for the Longhorns in the 8-6 win in extra innings. With a win, Texas moves to 33-6 overall and 10-5 in SEC play. With Alabama (now 39-3, 12-3 in SEC) taking care of business at Auburn in its series finale on Sunday, Oklahoma (now 40-4, 13-2 in SEC) now leads by just one game in the SEC standings.
Junior pitcher Teagan Kavan started this game for the Longhorns while Sydney Berzon got to see her first Red River start for the Sooners. Berzon is a senior transfer from LSU. She was able to get out of the bottom of the first with Texas having the bases loaded, but she didn't last long in the bottom of the second. Junior center fielder Kayden Henry hit a three-run homer in the second with one out to get the Longhorns to an early 3-0 lead.
Abby Dayton immediately responded in the top of the third with a solo shot of her own to bring it within two runs. Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso decided to give five pitchers some Red River experience in Sunday's matchup. Veteran senior Kierston Deal came into the bottom of the third and was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
After Oklahoma's Sydney Barker scored off of an error from Jaycie Nichols, the Sooners had a huge opportunity in the top of the fourth with bases loaded. But Kavan forced a Kendall Wells infield pop fly to end the top half of the inning. Freshman Berkley Zache came in for Deal in the bottom of the fourth and was able to get two crucial outs to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, it was the second 1-2-3 inning for Kavan and the Texas defense. In the bottom half of the inning, Leighann Goode took no time in contributing on the offensive side as she smashed a solo home run towards left center to put the Longhorns back up by two runs.
In the sixth, Oklahoma and Texas exchanged runs starting with Agbayani scoring off of an Abby Dayton sacrifice fly. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Katie Stewart hit a rocket towards left center to make it a 5-3 lead for Texas.
The seventh and eight innings provided even more fireworks. Gabbie Garcia for the Sooners hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh and Audrey Lowry came on the mound in the bottom half to force extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Kai Minor had arguably one of her biggest RBI base hits in her young career to put Oklahoma in the lead.
But in the end, Texas avoided getting swept by Oklahoma in what would have been the second straight season. Freshman Hannah Wells hit her first career pinch hitting home run with no outs in the bottom of the eighth to tie it. Katie Stewart stayed hot and ended the game with a three-run homer with one out.
While Kavan pitched seven innings, senior pitcher Citlaly Gutierrrez (now 6-1) pitched 1/3 innings in the bottom of the eighth and was awarded the win. Lowry (now 18-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings and was handed the loss.
Up next for the Sooners: Oklahoma will look to win Bedlam against Oklahoma State at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. It will be Wednesday, April 15 at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2. The Sooners are back home from April 17-19 for the next SEC series against Arkansas.