Why OU softball freshman Ella Parker is 'very much like' Alyssa Brito batting for Sooners

Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman

NORMAN — In OU’s three-game sweep of Baylor, the Bears were able to score eight runs on the Sooners.

It was the most runs allowed by the Sooners in a Big 12 series since Oklahoma State scored 18 in a three-game series in 2021.

But while the Sooners allowed more runs they have in quite awhile, they were still plenty dominant — outscoring Baylor 27-8 in the sweep.

Even in the innings where the Bears scored, the Sooners were mostly able to respond.

OU outscored Baylor 11-8 in those innings.

“That’s the sign of a good team,” Sooners coach Patty Gasso said. “That’s what we want to be right now, we’re starting to move in those great directions from top to bottom.”

Here’s a look at what we learned from the Sooners last week:

More: OU softball reschedules Tuesday's game against Wichita State

No. 1 OU

  • Overall record: 31-1

  • Last week: 4-0 (Beat UT Arlington 12-1 (5); beat Baylor 8-1, 12-3 (5), 7-4)

  • This week: at Kansas, 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday Saturday, noon Saturday)

More: Get to know the 2024 Oklahoma Sooners softball team and schedule

Ella Parker keeps shining

Freshman Ella Parker recorded hits in each game of the series to stretch her hitting break to six games.

During the streak, Parker is hitting .455 with 10 runs and 11 RBIs.

“She’s really getting comfortable,” Gasso said. “Very comfortable. Man when she swings and misses, you feel it, when she hits a ball foul, very much like (Alyssa) Brito as well. Like when they take their hacks, everyone just goes (gasps). … She swings differently, she swings hard and just so much power. She’s very, very strong. And the beauty of her is that she runs really well too.”

More: Relive OU softball's run to three straight WCWS titles with our 'Crimson Empire' book

OU's Ella Parker (5) gets a hit in the first inning against Baylor on Saturday at Love's Field in Norman.
OU's Ella Parker (5) gets a hit in the first inning against Baylor on Saturday at Love's Field in Norman.

Wichita State game rescheduled

The Sooners were scheduled to play at Wichita State on Tuesday night, but that game has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. April 9, OU announced Monday.

OU has just two mid-week games remaining — the rescheduled game against the Shockers and an April 16 matchup against Tulsa at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why OU softball freshman Ella Parker is 'very much like' Alyssa Brito

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