NORMAN — Coach Patty Gasso and the No. 2-ranked OU softball team will try to avoid a three-game Bedlam sweep against No. 4 Oklahoma State on Sunday in Norman while the Cowgirls are hoping for to finish in second place in the Big 12 behind Texas.
Here’s what you need to know about the Sooners (45-6, 21-5 Big 12) and Cowgirls (44-8, 21-5):
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Final: Sooners win finale, 8-2
OU super-senior pitcher Karlie Keeney recorded all but one out in a stellar performance and the Sooner bats came alive late to give the hosts an 8-2 win in the Bedlam series finale.
OU avoided a sweep from its in-state rival and will be the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament next week.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
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Bottom 6: Sooners retake lead, 8-2
A couple of soft singles started the inning, before the top of the lineup brought in the runs for a 8-2 Sooner lead.
Jayda Coleman singled to left-center field to score the first run, and Ella Parker brought in everybody with a home run into the bushes of the batter’s eye in center field.
Tiare Jennings followed with a line-drive homer to left field that was initially ruled as having hit the top of the fence. But review showed that it hit a railing above the wall and bounced back into play.
Pinch-hitter Hannah Coor drove in another run with a single.
The Sooners are three outs away from avoiding a Bedlam sweep.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
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Top 6: OSU ties it at 2
OU coach Patty Gasso changed pitchers to start the inning, but reversed course after OSU loaded the bases with one out. Gasso brought back starter Karlie Keeney, whose first pitch to Micaela Wark was lined down the third base line to score two.
That’s all the Cowgirls could get, setting the stage for a thrilling Bedlam finish.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 5: Controversial strikeout ends inning
OU’s Kasidi Pickering struck out looking on a pitch that many people on both sides of the Bedlam divide thought might be a ball.
Even the OSU players were slow in reacting to the call for the final out. OU coach Patty Gasso moved quickly down the third-base line to argue the call.
The game remains a 2-0 Sooner lead.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Top 5: Diving play ends OSU threat
The Cowgirls got two runners on in the top of the fifth, but OU shortstop Tiare Jennings ended the inning with a diving stop of a Tallen Edwards grounder, reaching to tag second base with her glove to get the force out just before Jilyen Poullard got to the bag.
Lexi McDonald led off the inning with her second hit of the day, a long single off the left field wall. She has two of OSU’s three hits in the game. But OSU stranded two runners and remains in a 2-0 hole.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 4: OU 2, OSU 0 | Kasidi Pickering opens the scoring
OU freshman Kasidi Pickering lasered a ball to left center field to open the game’s scoring.
Pickering’s two-run shot was the Sooners’ first home run of the series.
– Colton Sulley, Staff writer
Top 4: Strikeout ends OSU inning
A leadoff walk was all the Cowgirls could manage in the top of the fourth inning, stranding pinch-runner Taylor Anderson at first base. Through four, the Cowgirls have two hits and two walks.
Sunday’s attendance was announced at 4,528.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 3: Sooners threaten, no runs to show for it
OU had an opportunity to open the scoring with runners at the corners, two outs and Tiare Jennings up to the plate. But Jennings grounded out, keeping her weekend hitless streak alive.
– Colton Sulley, Staff writer
Top 3: Scoring chance erased
OSU had runners on the corners with no outs, but couldn’t manage a run, keeping the game scoreless.
Jilyen Poullard’s grounder to first base led to pinch-runner Tia Warsop being cut off at home plate, retreating to third base where she was tagged out. OSU asked for a review, hoping for an obstruction call, but the out was upheld.
Then Tallen Edwards lined into a double play at second base to end the inning.
OSU’s Ivy Rosenberry is back in the circle for the third inning, though sophomore Kyra Aycock was throwing in the bullpen last inning.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 2: Brito singles, force out ends inning
Alyssa Brito singled to left center field, firing up the Love’s Field crowd but OU failed to generate more offense.
– Colton Sulley, Staff writer
Top 2: A hit but nothing else for OSU
Claire Timm got the Cowgirls’ first hit of the day with a single to right-center field, but she was stranded after a groundout to end the inning. Still scoreless in the middle of the second.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 1: Three up, three down for Sooners
OU’s offensive struggles continued in the top of the first inning Sunday.
Jayda Coleman and Ella Parker grounded out. Tiare Jennings, who is hitless this weekend, struck out. The Sooners forced OSU starting pitcher Ivy Rosenberry to throw 17 pitches.
– Colton Sulley, Staff writer
Top 1: Double play ends inning
OSU got a one-out walk by Tallen Edwards, but couldn’t do anything with it. Caroline Wang grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Pitching matchup: OSU’s Rosenberry vs. OU’s Keeney
Both coaches have been through their bullpens this weekend, so there are no surprises left, but each team will start a veteran in the circle Sunday.
OU will start super-senior Karlie Keeney, a right-hander who has appeared in both games in relief. She has not allowed a run in 2 ⅓ innings against the Cowgirls.
OSU will return to Saturday’s starter, Ivy Rosenberry, who allowed a run on three hits over four innings in the 6-2 win.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Seeding scenarios for Bedlam finale
Perhaps the most tangible stakes for the Bedlam series finale are in Big 12 Tournament seeding. OSU and OU are tied in the standings at 21-5, and Texas has already claimed the regular season title at 23-4.
Here’s how the seeding battle looks:
*Winner finishes second and will play its first-round game at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. The No. 2 seed won’t know its opponent until Wednesday, but will face the winner of the play-in game between seventh-seeded Kansas and 10th-seeded Houston.
*Loser finishes third and will face sixth-seeded BYU at 11 a.m. Thursday.
*Regardless of the outcome, OSU and OU are locked into the second and third seeds, so they will align for a semifinal matchup if they both win Thursday.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
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What time does Bedlam softball start?
- Date: Sunday, May 5
- Time: 3 p.m. CT
- Where: Love’s Field in Norman
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What channel is Bedlam softball on today?
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