OU Softball: Kierston Deal's Outstanding Outing Fires No. 2 Oklahoma Past Tulsa

Kierston Deal threw a no-hitter and Cydney Sanders blasted a grand slam in OU's victory over Tulsa on Tuesday night.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kierston Deal hardly broke a sweat through the first four innings. 

Oklahoma’s sophomore pitcher retired the first 11 batters of Tuesday night’s contest at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, containing the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. 

Deal continued to cruise, firing the first no-hitter of her career to power the No. 2-ranked Sooners past Tulsa 8-0 in six innings. 

The left-hander struck out four Golden Hurricane batters, and the only two baserunners of the game came off a hit batter and a catcher’s interference in the fourth inning. 

“Couldn’t get any better, really,” OU coach Patty Gasso said after the win. “Stellar, very good. Exactly what we needed right now. We had a little conversation, as a team yesterday, and KD really took it to heart and came in with a mindset of being a fighter and attack, attack the zone. You really felt that tonight.”

Cydney Sanders’ grand slam in the sixth punctuated the display for Oklahoma (39-4, 15-3 Big 12), denying Tulsa (25-17, 12-6 AAC) another monster in-state upset on the year. 

Final Box Score

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Deal has made the midweek matchup her home in April. 

Kelly Maxwell started both the first and third games against Texas and BYU, meaning Deal’s last Big 12 start came on March 30 against Kansas. 

Despite playing reliever in conference play, Deal’s given Gasso no reason worry about any lack of focus. 

Deal struck out nine batters against Wichita State last week, allowing just one hit in 5 1/3 innings, and she needed only 70 pitches to dispense of the Golden Hurricane Tuesday night. 

“Just taking every opportunity and being present in the moment has helped me a lot,” Deal said. “Just being ready when my name is called… I feel like I take it in with the same mindset. Pound the strike zone, get ahead and win every pitch. Take it pitch by pitch.”

With Deal in full command, Oklahoma’s offense had plenty of time to adjust to Tulsa starter Kylee Nash. 

WATCH: Oklahoma's postgame press conference with Patty Gasso, Kierston Deal and Cydney Sanders

The right-hander stranded a trio of Sooners on the bases in the first two innings, but OU broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third. 

Alyssa Brito sparked the OU offense, bringing the crowd at Hall of Fame Stadium to their feet with a one-out triple after Jayda Coleman’s hard-hit line drive recorded the first out to open the frame. 

Tiare Jennings then walked, and freshman Ella Parker opened the scoring with an RBI-single back up the middle. 

With two outs, Alynah Torres bounced one to the wall in left-center field to clear the bases and extend Oklahoma’s advantage to 3-0.

Brito helped Deal keep the no-hitter intact in the fifth inning.

Tulsa's Maci Cole ripped a screamer that looked like it would split Brito and Jennings on the left side of the infield, but Brito dove and swiped the hit with a fantastic diving catch.

“That was an amazing play,” Deal said. “And it’s crazy because she just acted like it was just a normal thing… just having those amazing athletes behind you and those players, I know I can just keep pounding the zone and they’re going to have my back.”

The Sooners returned to finish the job in the sixth. 

Riley Ludlam, pinch-hitting for Kinzie Hansen, drew a leadoff walk.

Torres appeared as if she might hit into a double-play, but a throwing error allowed both Ludlam and Torres to reach safely. 

Avery Hodge capitalized with a single to load the bases up for Sanders’ blast that built the lead to 7-0.

Sanders always tries to take a simple approach to the plate, even if the result is a walk as opposed to a base hit. 

“Just seeing a good pitch to hit,” she said. “Honestly I haven’t really gotten any recently. But just being ready. Staying ready for that pitch and swinging hard. I’ve been working on swinging hard lately so it worked out today.”

Rylie Boone then walked and Coleman nearly ended the game with an extra-base hit to bring in her outfield partner and end the contest, but Tulsa left fielder MacKenzie Denson made a nice catch near the wall to deny OU’s star center fielder. 

Two batters later, Jennings closed out the win with an RBI-single. 

Brito finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, and Sanders finished 1-for-1 with a pair of walks to go with her grand slam. 

The Sooners will return to conference play this weekend. Oklahoma hosts the Houston Cougars for a three-game set at Love’s Field starting on Friday at 6 p.m. The series-opener will be broadcast on ESPN+.