NORMAN — Kasidi Pickering didn’t change a thing amidst her uncharacteristic slump.
Oklahoma’s junior outfielder entered postseason play five for her last 36 at the plate, equivalent to a .139 batting average.
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“I mean, it was a long drought, I guess you could say,” Pickering said postgame. “So just being present in practice and just knowing that you can’t change the past, so whatever happens, just work on the next at-bat.”
It appears Pickering has figured things out. The NFCA First-Team All-Region selection started the Sooners’ home run party Friday with a deep two-run shot to left center field during OU’s 11-0 run-rule victory over Binghamton to kick off the Norman Regional. She finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored in the win.
Pickering has been one of the Sooners’ most feared hitters in her three seasons and tends to elevate her play in the NCAA Tournament. Last season around this time, she hit a pair of home runs and drove in six in OU’s first game against Cal in the Norman Regional.
More: How Abby Dayton became OU softball’s loudest voice ahead of NCAA Tournament
Sooners coach Patty Gasso knew she’d pick things up offensively.
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“She is completely fine,” Gasso said of Pickering. “She is right where she needs to be and I don’t have to worry about her because she is that kind of player that can set herself back up and reset, and she’s done that, so she’s good to go.”
OU’s offense, led by Pickering, Ailana Agbayani and freshmen Kai Minor and Kendall Wells, exploded for 12 hits and four homers.
“It’s just a great way to get started,” Gasso said. “We’ve been waiting. This Georgia thing has been on us and you just move on and we got rid of it at practice. We really worked hard. We really worked efficiently I thought at practice so to see us score the way we did and just set a tone is really, really important. And they stepped up at the right times.”
Following the Sooners’ collapse against the Bulldogs in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, they got together as a team vying for postseason play to be different. After a couple of practices this week, OU is confident it’s turned the tide.
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If Pickering is back to form, the Sooners’ offense could be even scarier as they try for national title No. 5 in six years. Next, OU faces either Kansas or Michigan in its second game of the Norman Regional at 2 p.m. Saturday at Love’s Field.
“As a team we all just talked about, this is a new start to the season,” Pickering said. “This is the last fourth of the season so just coming out today is a fresh start and we practiced all week so we were prepared for it.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Double elimination from Friday-Sunday (May 15-17) at Love’s Field.
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Game 1: (3) Oklahoma (48-8) vs. Binghamton (20-25), 2:30 p.m., SEC Network
Game 2: Kansas (35-19) vs. Michigan (34-20), 5 p.m., ESPNU
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 7 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Rematch Game 6, 4:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kasidi Pickering breaks slump, powers OU softball past Binghamton
