Oklahoma Softball Dominates Tennessee in Weekend Showdown

NORMAN, Okla. — No. 2 Oklahoma Softball (30-1, 8-1 SEC) hosts No. 10 Tennessee (27-6, 3-3 SEC) in a three-game series from March 28 to March 30. This matchup marks the second top-10 series for the Sooners this season, following their earlier contest against then No. 10 South Carolina.

Fans can catch game one and game three on SEC Network+, featuring commentary from Chad McKee and DJ Sanchez. Saturday’s game will be aired on ESPN with Chuckie Kempf and Amanda Scarborough providing live coverage. Additionally, radio broadcasts will be available on The Franchise 2 (1560 AM and 103.3 FM) for Friday and Sunday, while Saturday’s game will be on The Franchise (107.7). Live statistics can be tracked on statbroadcast.com.

Oklahoma is entering this series after a thrilling 19-16 victory against Wichita State on March 26, where the Sooners set a season high with eight runs in a single inning and amassed a total of 17 hits. The offensive charge included standout performances, including three hits and four RBIs from a player who reached base a remarkable four times, alongside six players scoring at least two runs.

In the historical rivalry between Oklahoma and Tennessee, the Sooners lead the series 7-5, including a decisive 9-0 victory during the last encounter at the Women’s College World Series on June 3, 2023. With games played in Norman evenly split at two wins apiece, both teams will strive to secure a decisive advantage this weekend.

Tennessee, ranked No. 10, enters the series with a record of 27-6 and a 3-3 SEC mark. The Vols recently won a game against No. 14 Arkansas and claimed two victories over No. 13 Georgia. Tennessee boasts a national best earned run average of 1.33, led by Karlyn Pickens, who has a stellar ERA of 0.78. Offensively, redshirt-sophomore outfielder Taylor Pannell shines with 11 home runs this season.

For Oklahoma, freshman infielder has emerged as a significant contributor, tallying 11 home runs, the fourth-highest among freshmen nationally. She was recently honored as D1Softball Freshman of the Week and received SEC Player of the Week accolades for her stellar performance. Notably, she has achieved a homering streak of five consecutive games.

Pitcher has garnered attention for her on-field prowess as well, earning SEC Pitcher of the Week honors, making it three such accolades this season. Completing a shutout against Missouri and a complete game win solidifies her reputation. She ranks fifth in the nation for strikeout-to-walk ratio and stands third in WHIP, while also making the top ten in ERA.

The Sooners have managed to stage 11 comeback victories this season, placing them among a select group of 13 teams nationally to achieve double-digit comeback wins. Key contributions include multiple comeback efforts against opponents, such as South Carolina and Arkansas.

Oklahoma’s offensive strategy has also highlighted their patience at the plate, with 81 runs scored through walks or hit-by-pitches contributing to their total of 269 runs this season. This underlines the team’s prowess, leading the nation with 176 walks.

In terms of roster impact, newcomers have significantly shaped this year’s performance. Out of 63 total home runs, 36 were hit by players in their first season in the program. Six different Sooners have achieved two-homer games, evidencing a robust offensive depth as 11 players have hit home runs.

Maintaining a solid streak, Oklahoma identifies with a 19-game home win streak at Love’s Field, scoring 117 runs to opponents’ 29 during home games this season. Consequently, they hope to sustain their momentum against Tennessee for an electrifying series.

For continual updates and insights, fans are encouraged to follow Oklahoma Softball on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and Facebook.