CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — No. 4/5 Oklahoma Softball (12-2) rebounded from a 6-4 loss to Long Beach State (8-4) with a 7-5 comeback victory against California (5-9) Saturday, Feb. 21.
Sydney Berzon spun 4.2 innings of one-run ball to earn the win in game two as the Sooners overcame a 4-2 deficit with a five-run sixth inning in the victory.
The Sooners got the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the seventh against Long Beach State, but the 49ers held off the push with a series of big plays in the field.
LBSU 6, OU 4
Long Beach State scratched out a 2-0 lead after the third inning with a flurry of singles. OU tied the game up, 2-2, thanks to a big fourth inning from the Sooner freshmen. Allyssa Parker homered, Kai Minor singled and Lexi McDaniel doubled her in.
The Sooners were not able to capitalize after having runners at second and third with one away in the sixth, leaving the door open for Long Beach State. The 49ers put up four runs in the sixth, highlighted by a three-run home run.
Down 6-2, Kendall Wells hit a home run that left the stadium, giving the Sooners late life. LBSU’s left fielder made a spectacular catch in foul ground for the first out before Allyssa Parker walked. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and Minor singled, but the 49ers worked a groundout and strikeout to end OU’s push.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Audrey Lopetgui (2-2)
Loss: Audrey Lowry (8-1)
Save: Lindsey Cowans (1)
Statistical Snapshot
Kendall Wells | 2-for-4, HR
Allyssa Parker | 2-for-3, HR
Kai Minor | 2-for-4, R, RBI
Notes
All four of OU’s RBI came from freshmen
It was OU’s first loss against an unranked opponent at a neutral site since falling to Wisconsin in 2020
It was OU’s first loss to a non-Power Four team since falling to Louisiana March 3, 2024
Eight of Long Beach State’s nine hits were singles
The Sooners left 10 runners on base
Lowry suffered her first loss of the season
No. 4 Oklahoma 7, California 5
McEnroe-Marinas singled in Kasidi Pickering for the game’s first run, but Cal bounced back with four unanswered runs, two of which with solo home runs.
The Sooners got one back via a fielding miscue by Cal in the fourth, but the sixth inning is when OU did its damage. McDaniel started the inning with a single, Ailana Agbayani chopped another through the infield and Abby Dayton evaded a tag on a dribbler to the first baseman to ignite the rally.
Pickering drew a bases loaded walk and Ella Parker reached on a fielding error, tying the game. OU took the lead on a Wells’ bases loaded walk and added two more on a McEnroe-Marinas sac fly and Minor infield single.
Berzon permitted a solo home run in the seventh but retired the next three to secure the win.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Sydney Berzon (1-1)
Loss: Tamya Waiters (0-2)
Statistical Snapshot
Kai Minor | 3-for-4
Abby Dayton, 3-for-4, R
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas | 2-for-3, 2RBI
Notes
Minor is on a 10-game hitting streak and leads the team with seven multi-hit games
Wells and McEnroe-Marinas are both on 14-game reached base streaks
OU posted its third inning of five runs on the weekend
Berzon earned her first win as a Sooner with a season-long 4.2 innings
It was OU’s first game without a home run this season. The Sooners have 49 on the year
Up Next
OU finishes its stay at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Sunday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. CT against No. 23/RV Washington