NORMAN, Okla. — Kasidi Pickering hit a two-run homer while Sam Landry pitched a complete game as Oklahoma beat Alabama 3-0 on Friday to open the best-of-five Norman Super Regional.
No. 2 Oklahoma (49-7) — the highest remaining seed from the field of 64 for the NCAA tournament after No. 1 Texas A&M was among the 48 teams eliminated during last week’s regionals — can clinch a berth in the eight-team Women’s College World Series and eliminate the No. 15 Crimson Tide with a win in the second game of the super regional Saturday, when Alabama will bat last as the designated home team.
A third game, if necessary, would be played Sunday with a coin flip deciding the designated home team.
The Sooners, on a quest for their fifth consecutive NCAA title, have won 17 consecutive games in super regional play.
Landry (23-4) had five strikeouts and allowed four hits and two walks, with another Alabama batter reaching against by being hit by a pitch.