Oklahoma softball got its first taste of adversity at the Troy Cox Classic on Saturday morning - and responded like a team that’s built for the long haul.
The fourth-ranked Sooners found themselves trailing for the first time in the tournament after Minnesota jumped out with a pair of solo homers in the bottom of the first inning. But if there were any nerves, they didn’t last long. Oklahoma answered with a thunderous eight-run second inning and never looked back, rolling to a 12-2 run-rule win over the Gophers in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
That’s now five straight wins for the Sooners, four of them coming via run-rule. They’re 6-1 on the young season and already showing flashes of the offensive firepower and depth that’s defined their recent dominance.
Early Jolt, Immediate Response
Minnesota landed the first punch with back-to-back home runs from Tara Wolocko and Cassie Johnson off OU starter Sydney Berzon. It was a rare early stumble for the Sooners, but the response was emphatic.
Oklahoma sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the second, chasing Gophers starter Natalie Susa after just 1 1/3 innings. Susa was tagged for nine earned runs on eight hits and two walks, and the Sooners did most of their damage with authority - four extra-base hits in the inning, including two home runs.
Kasidi Pickering launched a three-run shot, her fourth of the season, and Ella Parker followed with a two-run blast of her own - her third of the year. Both were locked in at the plate all game.
Pickering finished 2-for-2 with three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. Parker went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Agbayani Sets the Tone
Senior Ailana Agbayani was the spark plug in the second inning, leading off with a single and later doubling in the same frame. She went 4-for-4 on the day, adding two runs scored and setting the table for the heart of the order. Her presence at the top of the lineup continues to be a steadying force for this offense.
Freshman center fielder Kai Minor also had a strong showing, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI groundout in the second. She’s quickly showing she belongs in the mix for meaningful at-bats.
Isabela Emerling and Abby Dayton chipped in with RBI in the second as well - Emerling with a single to left-center, Dayton with a perfectly executed sac bunt to plate Minor.
Tacking On, Locking Down
The Sooners didn’t let up after the explosive second. Sydney Barker delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the third, and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas added a sac fly to extend the lead. Tia Milloy capped the scoring with another sac fly in the fourth.
In the circle, Berzon settled in after the early hiccup, working around a one-out single in the second to keep the Gophers from building on their momentum. She handed things off to Miali Guachino to start the third, and the Ole Miss transfer was lights out.
Guachino tossed three hitless, scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing just two walks. After issuing those free passes in the third, she retired the final seven batters she faced, slamming the door on any hopes of a Minnesota comeback.
What It Means
This wasn’t just another run-rule win - it was a statement. Oklahoma absorbed an early punch, then responded with the kind of offensive avalanche that’s become their trademark. The depth of the lineup is already showing, the bench is producing, and the pitching staff looks versatile and composed.
There’s still a long way to go in the season, but through seven games, the Sooners are reminding everyone why they’re a perennial powerhouse.