SI

Oklahoma Softball's Ella Parker Had Priceless Reaction to Epic Walk-Off Homer

Parker, the niece of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, hit an incredibly clutch home run on Thursday.
Parker was overcome with emotion during her journey around the base paths.
Parker was overcome with emotion during her journey around the base paths. | Screengrab Twitter @NCAASoftball

Ella Parker called game for the Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday.

The defending champion Sooners' backs were against the wall when sophomore utility Ella Parker stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning of their Women's College World Series opening game against Tennessee. Facing Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens with two runners on and the Sooners down to their last out, Parker represented the winning run. In a fairytale ending, Parker drilled the 0-1 pitch over the center field wall at Devon Park for a walk-off home run, sending the crowd and her Oklahoma teammates into a frenzy.

But arguably the best part was Parker's run around the bases. In a priceless scene, an emotional Parker went from shouting for joy, to screaming a war cry and then, was seemingly on the verge of tears as she rounded third base and headed for the scrum at home plate.

"Very emotional," Parker said postgame of what it was like rounding the bases. "I cried—I started getting teary-eyed. As soon as I saw my teammates, I started bawling my eyes out. So really emotional."

Parker, the niece of Los Angeles Dodgers World Series-winning manager Dave Roberts, is no stranger to championships herself, having captured one as a freshman on the 2024 Sooners.

Now, thanks to her heroics, the Sooners are one step closer to making it back-to-back titles. Oklahoma will face Texas in the winner's bracket of the WCWS on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.


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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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