It didn't take long for Oklahoma and Texas to find each other at the Women's College World Series.
In fact, the two teams are quite familiar with playing the Red River Rivalry in Oklahoma City.
The Sooners will clash with Texas at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the WCWS second round. The Longhorns coasted to a 3-0 win over Florida on Thursday, while late-game heroics from Ella Parker lifted the Sooners to a 4-3 win over Tennessee.
Saturday's matchup will mark the 13th time the teams have faced each other at Devon Mark, and the seventh time in the Women's College World Series. The Sooners are 12-0 in those games, including sweeping the Longhorns in the championship series in 2022 and 2024.
Here's an overview of another pivotal Red River Rivalry matchup in Oklahoma City:
HOW TO WATCH
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City
TV: ESPN on ABC
Radio: 107.7 FM
TEXAS' POSTSEASON PATH
Austin Regional: 10-2W Eastern Illinois, 16-4W Michigan, 9-0W UCF
Super Regional (vs. Clemson): 4-7L, 7-5W, 6-5W
WCWS: 3-0W Florida
— The Longhorns didn't score a ton, but they had no issues with six-seeded Florida. Texas ace Teagan Kavan completely shut down the Gators' offense, allowing just two hits and two walks through seven innings. Texas got a pair of home runs from Joley Mitchell and another one from Katie Stewart to keep the Gators at arms' length.
TEXAS OVERVIEW
Offense: 7.38 runs per game
Defense: 2.95 runs per game
Batting average: .357
Opponent batting average: .229
Home runs: 88
Walks: 220
On-base percentage: .434
PREVIOUS OU-TEXAS MATCHUP
Game 1, April 25: OU, 7-6W
Game 2, April 26: OU, 7-2W
Game 3, April 27: OU, 9-8W
— The Sooners opened Game 1 with a 6-0 lead thanks to a solo home run from Gabbie Garcia and a grand slam from Ailana Agbayani. Texas rallied late, but an RBI double from Agbayani gave the Sooners a much-needed insurance run in the fifth.
— It was an easy rout in Game 2 for the Sooners, who scored the first seven runs of the game. Garcia, Agbayani and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas each hit home runs. Kierston Deal was fantastic in the circle, allowing just four hits through seven innings.
— Game 3 looked like a blowout as the Sooners scored eight unanswered runs through four innings, putting the game into run-rule territory. But the Longhorns rallied to score eight runs and tie it. The Sooners cycled through three pitchers before bringing Landry to close the game out, and a late sacrifice fly from Isabela Emerling made the difference.
BIG QUESTION
How do both teams handle the pitching staffs?
— Oklahoma and Texas both having a day to rest and prepare makes this a really interesting question.
Kavan (182.1 IP, 2.46 ERA) is Texas' ace pitcher, and she was fantastic against Florida. But the Sooners had no issue with Kavan in Norman. In 4.1 innings across two games, the Sooners recorded 12 hits and 14 earned runs against Keagan, essentially making her unplayable.
The Sooners didn't really have any issues with the Texas pitching staff as a whole, recording 30 hits and 23 runs across the three games. But it was clear that the Sooners had Kavan completely scouted. Do the Longhorns go with Kavan considering she's rested, or do they go to someone like Citlaly Gutierrez or Mac Morgan?
On the other side, the Sooners haven't been afraid to pitch Landry multiple games in a weekend. Having a rest day only makes that an easier decision. Plus, Landry was solid against Texas, allowing eight hits and eight runs in 10.2 innings.
But Kierston Deal pitched one of her best games of the season in the second game against Texas, and she could be an intriguing option that keeps Texas off balance while providing more rest for Landry.
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