Alabama Softball Evens Up Series Against OU
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- OU pitcher Paige Parker allowed only two hits, but one of them spelled defeat for the Sooners as Alabama evened the NCAA Softball Super Regional at a game piece with a 2-0 win Saturday afternoon before a standing room only crowd of 4,000 plus people. The Sooners, who defeated Alabama 5-2 Friday evening, got only one hit off winning pitcher Alexis Osorio. That was a single up the middle in the fifth inning by Calli Parsons to load the bases with Lauren Chamberlain due up. But Chamberlain, who had hit a two-run homer Friday, struck out for the second time against the Tide freshman to end the threat. Osorio fanned seven batters for the second game in a row in getting her 20th win of the season. She walked three batters, including two in the fifth inning when the Sooners loaded the bases with two outs and Chamberlain up. Osorio retired the first nine batters in order before Shelby Pendley was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning to become the first OU base runner.
Parker, now 28-6, got one of the three passes Osorio issued and she walked to open the fifth inning against the Tide. Parker likewise walked three batters and her second one was to Hallie McCleney in the second inning with two out. Jadyn Spencer followed her and smashed a three-two curve ball over the left field fence for her sixth homer of the season. That was all the Tide needed to force the if necessary game later Saturday night.
Parker fanned three batters as OU suffered its first shutout since losing to Baylor 8-0 April 16th. It was only the third time this season that the Sooners had been shutout.
The two outstanding freshmen are expected to pitch the third and deciding game Saturday night with the winner advancing to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
