No. 4 Oklahoma (37-5, 11-5 SEC) made a powerful statement in its series opener, defeating No. 15 Mississippi State (33-12, 9-7 SEC) 4-0 at Devon Park on Friday. Behind Sam Landry’s dominant complete-game shutout and an explosive offensive start, the Sooners took control early, showcasing their depth and execution. Oklahoma’s ace, Sam Landry, was the difference-maker in the circle. Landry delivered her 11th complete game of the season, shutting out the Bulldogs over seven innings. The junior right-hander scattered just three hits and struck out six, relying on her pinpoint control to keep Mississippi State’s lineup at bay. Landry was particularly effective in getting ahead of hitters and working quickly. After facing a mini-jam in the fourth, where she allowed two base runners, Landry got out of the inning with a groundout back to the circle, leaving both Bulldogs stranded. Her efficient performance — just 85 pitches — allowed her to remain in control throughout the game, keeping her pitch count low and minimizing opportunities for Mississippi State to rally. “I think it really kind of started in the circle with Sam Landry,” Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso said postgame. “I thought she was very effective, very efficient. Threw, I think, 85 pitches, which really helps us going into Sunday now.” This shutout marked Landry’s 13th win of the season and was an example of her growing consistency. As OU finishes its SEC slate, Landry’s dominance is essential in securing wins against top-tier teams, especially as postseason competition looms. Her performance only reinforced her position as OU’s trusted ace, showing that the Sooners can count on her to step up in critical moments. In the first two innings, Oklahoma wasted no time surprising Mississippi State’s starter, Raelin Chaffin. The Sooners grabbed an early 4-0 lead, a cushion that would prove unassailable throughout the game. Kasidi Pickering started the action with a leadoff double down the left-field line. A few batters later, Ella Parker doubled home both Pickering and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, who reached on a dropped third strike, to give OU a 2-0 advantage.

The Sooners’ offensive power didn’t stop there. Abigale Dayton led off with an infield single in the second inning, using her speed to reach safely. Following Dayton’s hit, Hannah Coor provided the game’s most significant moment with a two-run home run to left field, her first homer of the season. “I just swung my 100% swing and got it,” Coor said after her home run. “It felt great to do it for my teammates.” The early runs allowed OU to settle into their rhythm and play confidently, providing Landry with all the run support she would need. While the offense as a whole fired on all cylinders, it was Abigale Dayton who was the star at the bottom of OU’s lineup. Dayton finished the game a perfect 3-for-3, adding a double and scoring a run. Her three-hit performance was the first of the season and marked her 10th multi-hit game of the year. “I think it’s just understanding the game plan,” Dayton said. “We know how to hit the ball and we know how to have energy. So, just being able to mix the two is something that our team brings: energy. We’ll have it all the time, whether we’re up or down. So being able to be in the box and be still … and be able to be patient throughout the game, that’s what helped us today.” With 12 different Sooners having homered this season, Dayton’s performance was another reminder that OU’s lineup depth makes them a formidable opponent. The game also featured an emotional subplot: Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts, a former OU All-American and long-time assistant under Patty Gasso, squared off against her mentor for the first time as a head coach. Ricketts was an All-American first baseman for Oklahoma from 2006-09, contributing to multiple national championships before joining Gasso’s coaching staff. In 2020, Ricketts became the head coach at Mississippi State, where she has since transformed the program into a contender in the SEC. “Anytime I see one of my athletes in coaching, it just warms my heart. It’s like another level of pride,” said Gasso postgame. “(Ricketts) is raising the bar every season. They’re knocking down teams and doing it in a big-time way. I’m really proud of her.” Despite the emotional backdrop, both coaches were focused on the task at hand. Gasso led her team to victory while Ricketts continued to build Mississippi State’s program. It was a poignant moment in a game full of high stakes, with both women’s legacies intertwined in the world of softball coaching. “She really molded everything with my career, she’s given me so many opportunities and so many lessons,” Ricketts said. “If I’ve got an issue, she’s my first call, and I know that she’ll always be there to help.” This win was more than just a victory in the standings for Oklahoma — it was an essential step toward strengthening their postseason positioning. With just a handful of games left in the regular season, every win matters. The win moved the Sooners to 37–5 on the year, keeping them in the thick of the SEC race. More importantly, it provided another high-quality win for their NCAA Tournament résumé. At 12–4 against ranked teams this season and 9–4 against ranked SEC teams, OU’s track record against tough competition continues to speak volumes. The victory also helped Oklahoma maintain its momentum heading into the remainder of its SEC schedule, with two series against ranked opponents on the horizon. While the Sooners’ performance has been impressive, the quest for an SEC title and another deep run in the postseason continues. The Sooners will now look to close out the series against Mississippi State with a doubleheader scheduled for Sunday at Love’s Field. Game one will begin at 2 p.m., followed by game two about 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first.