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OU Softball: Ella Parker's Grand Slam Fires Oklahoma Past UCF

The sophomore star has battled injury the past month, but delivered for the Sooners on Friday night.
Ryan Chapman|
Oklahoma's Ella Parker celebrates a grand slam in the third inning.
Oklahoma's Ella Parker celebrates a grand slam in the third inning. | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NORMAN — Ella Parker got back on track in emphatic fashion on Friday night. 

After enduring a month-long slump to start conference play while battling a nagging leg injury, she busted Oklahoma’s Friday matchup against UCF wide open. 

With the bases loaded and no outs, Parker clobbered a no-doubter to left field to give the Sooners a six-run lead, igniting the fans who battled the damp, cold weather at Love’s Field. 

Sam Landry was excellent again in the circle and the offense hummed around Parker as OU held on for a 6-0 victory over the Knights. 

"Just being able to do something for our team, it felt really good," Parker said. "I know the last couple of weeks have been frustrating. ... I screamed so loud. It just felt good to come to home plate with open arms. It was almost like a weight was lifted off my shoulders."

The grand slam was Parker’s first home run since OU’s win over Missouri on March 21. Before the homer, Parker had gone 5-for-38 at the plate dating back to Oklahoma’s SEC opener on March 7.

Final Box Score
Final Box Score | OU Stats

The No. 2-ranked Sooners moved to 34-3 overall on the year with the win, and UCF dropped to 23-17-1.

"Tough team. UCF has a history of playing a tough schedule," OU coach Patty Gasso said after the win. "Took down Florida, beat Arizona twice. This is a quality win for our RPI. We’re starting to talk about that a little bit and where we need to start moving ourselves."

Isabela Emerling opened the scoring with an RBI double in the second.

The Sooners would have had a pair of runners in scoring position after the double, but Ailana Agbayani rounded third a bit too aggressively, and she ended up in a rundown between third and home. 

UCF eventually threw her out, but Emerling was able to advance to third.

Two batters later, Abigale Dayton reached on a walk, and she was able to coax the Knights into a pickle between first and second, which gave Emerling enough time to score, giving OU a 2-0 lead as the game entered the third inning. 

In the third, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas drew a walk before Kasidi Pickering and Gabbie Garcia reached on back-to-back singles to set the table for Parker’s heroics. 

OU then put a pair of runners on after the grand slam, but Agbayani was thrown out as she tried to steal third to momentarily limit the damage. 

Even if the Oklahoma offense hadn’t clicked, UCF struggled to find any success against Landry.

The Knights totaled just three hits, all of which were singles, and Landry struck out four batters. 

Her best work came in the fourth when she retired the side on six pitches, which was emblematic of her efficient night. 

OU’s offense again loaded the bases for Parker with one out in the fourth, but she was punched out after watching the 3-2 delivery all the way into the catcher’s glove. 

Sydney Barker nearly sent the game toward a run rule with a hard-hit ball that seemed destined for the alley in left-center, but UCF shortstop Aubrey Evans made a leaping grab to keep the deficit at six. 

Freshman pitcher Audrey Lowry returned to the lineup for the first time since March 12 in the fifth inning to take over for Landry with two outs. 

Lowry's feelings on getting back into the circle mirrored Parker's relief.

"I felt the same," Lowry said. "Just the frustration wanting to get back out there as soon as I could. Just doing it for my team. Cheering for everyone while I was out. It felt really good to be back."

Lowry cruised in her return, striking out three batters and allowing no hits or free passes in 2 1/3 innings to close out the win.

The Sooners and the Knights will meet again on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. to close out OU’s portion of the Okana Invitational, weather permitting.

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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