Abigale Dayton delivered an RBI double to left-center to break a scoreless tie with two outs in the 11th, helping lift third-ranked OU to a 2-0 win over Long Beach State on Sunday to wrap up an eventful opening weekend for the Sooners.
It was a fitting end to a game that stayed scoreless for nearly three hours, thanks in part to some strong defense by Dayton.
Ella Parker followed Dayton’s hit with a single to right and Dayton was waved around after a bobble by the Beach’s right fielder.
Parker was thrown out at second to end the inning, but not before Dayton crossed the plate to give the Sooners some insurance.
But OU didn’t need it.
Isabella Smith pitched 4 ⅔ scoreless innings to finish the game and pick up her third win of the weekend.
Smith retired the side in order in the 11th, getting a popup to short left to end the game.
The Sooners (6-0) return to action Saturday, taking on Hofstra and Baylor in Waco, Texas.
OU hadn’t played into the 11th since 2018, when it beat Cal State Northridge in 11 innings. The Sooners hadn’t played a longer game since a 17-inning marathon victory over Florida in the 2017 Women’s College World Series.
OU had averaged more than nine runs per game through its first five games, but couldn’t generate much offense Sunday.
The Sooners threatened plenty but couldn’t break through, leaving 11 runners on base through seven innings.
Dayton led off the game with a walk followed by Parker drawing a walk but Tia Milloy lined into a double play a few batters later to end the inning.
OU loaded the bases in the third but Nelly McEnroe-Marinas struck out to end the inning.
In the fifth, Cydney Sanders delivered a hard single to left with two on and one out, and Sooners coach Patty Gasso sent Parker from second. Parker was easily cut down at the plate, keeping the game scoreless.
McEnroe-Martinas led off the sixth with a double, then the Sooners put runners on second and third with one out in the seventh and still couldn’t score.
Kierston Deal had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the seventh before Carly Robbins beat out a dribbler between the circle and first, barely sliding in ahead of Deal’s diving tag attempt, for the Beach’s first hit.
Deal gave way to Paytn Monticelli, and the Sooners’ defense came up big once again.
Kasidi Pickering came in to catch Makayla Medelin’s short pop to left on the run, and fired quickly to first to double up pinch-runner Erica Estrada.
It didn’t start off well for Deal, who hit Jacquelyn Bickar to start the bottom of the first.
But Bicker was quickly erased by a double play and Deal settled in, allowing just a fourth-inning walk before Robbins’ infield single.
Parker was the offensive star of the weekend for the Sooners, with multiple hits in each of the six games. Parker was 2 for 3 on Sunday to raise her average to .590.
Smith threw 13 scoreless innings over the weekend as OU’s pitching staff had three shutouts and followed just 11 total runs.