The Oklahoma Sooners needed someone on the pitching staff to step up. Kierston Deal provided just what the doctor ordered on Saturday in the Oklahoma Sooners' win over Tennessee. Deal threw a complete game, allowing just one earned run on four hits and a walk. She struckout five Volunteers to lead the Sooners to a pivotal game two win.
It was an important performance after the pitching staff's midweek showing against an underrated Wichita State team, when the Sooners allowed 16 runs.
Deal gave the Sooners a secondary starting option behind Sam Landry, who's been stellar but can't pitch every game. Landry was extended into extra innings on Friday night. Deal's performance saved the rest of the staff for Sunday and gave the Sooners an opportunity to win the top 10 series matchup over Tennessee.
“Just to see how everyone picks up each other, I think it’s the pivotal time to show that,” said Deal after the game. “Dealing with adversity from last game and come back out this game, it’s really cool to see all the underclassmen have that short-term memory.”
Deal picked up the Sooners after their game one loss. She had to overcome a first-inning situation in which Tennessee put runners on second and third with one out. But she induced a pop-up on a full count and then ended the ending with a ground out.
She allowed a lead-off home run in the fourth. But that was all the offense the Volunteers could muster. After the home run, Deal retired 12 of the next 13 Volunteers she faced to record her first complete game of the season.
It's been an up-and-down season in 2025 for Deal, but she's made two good SEC starts in a row after limiting Missouri to just one run last weekend. She's 7-0 on the season and has a 2.72 ERA. The Sooners need the junior lefty to build off that performance over the final few months of the season.
Once again faced with adversity after their performance against Wichita State and the opening game loss to Tennessee, Deal proved once again that these Sooners can rise to the occasion.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma gets clutch performance from Kierston Deal in game 2 win
