Oklahoma Beats Alabama 3-0 to Open Norman Super Regional

Kasidi Pickering hit a two-run homer while Sam Landry pitched a complete game as Oklahoma beat Alabama 3-0 on Friday

The no.2 seed Oklahoma women's softball team defeated no.15 seed Alabama 3-0 on Friday in the first game of the Norman Super Regional.

The no.1 remaining seed from the 64-team field after no.1 Texas A&M was among the 48 teams eliminated during last week's regionals, Oklahoma (49-7) can clinch a berth in the eight-team Women's College World Series and eliminate the 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, will 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. They also improved to 7-6 all-time against Alabama in NCAA tournament play.

Sam 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.

Abigale Dayton drew a leadoff walk in the third, and Kasidi Pickering hit the next pitch over the wall in center field to make it 2-0.

Sydney Barker's two-out single in the fifth drove in Dayton to make it 3-0. Dayton led off with a double.

Alexis Pupillo led off the sixth with a double for Alabama. Landry struck out Salen Hawkins and Marlie Giles before Brooke Ellestad's groundout ended the threat.

Jocelyn Briski (17-13) gave up three runs on six hits over five innings for Alabama (40-22).

Two of Oklahoma's losses this season came against the Tide during regular-season play in the Southeastern Conference, which the Sooners joined this school year after leaving the Big 12.