Freshman infieilder Gabbie Garcia during the game against Marshall on March 1.
Reporter
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Freshman infieilder Gabbie Garcia during the game against Marshall on March 1.
Oklahoma’s underclassmen played a crucial role in Sunday’s 10-7 win over Arkansas, securing the Sooners’ second consecutive SEC sweep and proving their growing importance in a lineup historically defined by veteran leadership. Freshman Gabbie Garcia and sophomore Nelly McEnroe-Marinas combined for eight RBIs, providing the offensive firepower Oklahoma needed to outlast the Razorbacks in a game where both teams found consistent success at the plate.
Garcia’s recent surge at the plate continued as she launched two home runs, bringing her season total to nine — more than any other Sooner in 2025. Her first came at a pivotal moment when Arkansas still held control of the game. After a three-run home run by Courtney Day put the Razorbacks ahead 3-0, Garcia cut into the deficit with a solo shot to right field. The ball bounced off the protective fencing and back into play, prompting an official review, but the ruling on the field stood. That home run not only put Oklahoma on the board but it also set the tone for the Sooners’ response.
The momentum carried into the rest of the second inning, where Oklahoma’s younger players took over. Freshman Ailana Agbayani worked a walk and narrowly avoided being doubled up at second base, allowing sophomore Hannah Coor to step in with an RBI double that brought the Sooners within one. With two runners on, McEnroe-Marinas, who had already put together an impressive weekend at the plate, delivered again. She launched a three-run home run to left field, flipping the scoreboard and giving Oklahoma a 5-3 lead. Garcia added to the scoring before the inning ended, capitalizing on a fielding miscue in left field to drive in another run and cap off a six-run frame.
Students pay about $14 in annual fees that support the Daily. If you are not a student and find value in our work, please match or exceed that if you can.
Though Oklahoma’s offense had regained control, Arkansas continued to apply pressure. The Razorbacks, playing in front of a home crowd at Bogle Park, chipped away at the deficit in the third when Bri Ellis launched a two-run home run. That blast came off sophomore Kierston Deal, who had entered in relief of freshman Isabella Smith and sophomore Paytn Monticelli. Deal’s command wavered at times, allowing free passes that Arkansas turned into scoring opportunities.
Yet, for every challenge Arkansas posed, Oklahoma had an immediate response. Garcia delivered again. The freshman stepped up in the fourth inning and crushed her second home run of the game — this one, a no-doubt shot to right field. The two-run blast extended Oklahoma’s lead to 8-5 and continued her torrid stretch of offensive production. Over the last 10 games, she has hit eight home runs, making her one of the most dangerous hitters in the Sooners’ lineup.
McEnroe-Marinas continued to make an impact as well. In the fifth inning, her double brought home junior Abby Dayton, who had reached on a walk and sprinted all the way from first to score. The sophomore third baseman’s fourth RBI of the day further solidified Oklahoma’s lead, and moments later, freshman Ella Parker added to the scoring with an RBI single that put the Sooners up 10-5 before Arkansas had recorded an out in the inning.
Despite Oklahoma’s offensive output, Arkansas remained within striking distance, thanks to Ellis, who homered twice off Deal. Her second two-run shot in the fifth cut the Sooners’ lead to 10-7, and Gasso opted to make another pitching change, bringing in junior Sam Landry to finish the game. From there, the Sooners’ bullpen finally settled things down.
Landry, who has quickly established herself as Oklahoma’s most reliable arm in high-leverage situations, worked efficiently through the Arkansas lineup. She struck out the side in the sixth inning and returned in the seventh to protect the three-run lead. The Razorbacks managed to extend the game with a two-out single, but Landry induced a ground ball to shortstop, where Garcia fielded cleanly and fired to first for the final out. Landry finished with five strikeouts in two 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and walk to record her second save of the weekend.
The underclassmen reinforced the notion that this year’s team is more than just its veteran leadership. Garcia has emerged as a legitimate power threat, leading the team in home runs as a freshman, while McEnroe-Marinas continues to prove her reliability in the middle of the lineup. Coor, Parker, and Agbayani all contributed in key moments, showing that the younger core is becoming an essential piece of Oklahoma’s championship aspirations.
With Sunday’s win, Oklahoma improved to 26-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. The Sooners will return home at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday to host East Texas A&M on SEC Network+ before heading back on the road for a three-game series against Missouri next weekend.
TV channel: SEC Network
Start time: 11 a.m.
Location: Bogle Park
Notes: Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 in the country, while Arkansas is a top-15 team. This is the third matchup of the conference series between the two.
Feb. 6: Oklahoma 7, Cal State Northridge 2
Feb. 6: Oklahoma 11, San Diego State 6 (9 inn.)
Feb. 7: Oklahoma 8, Cal Baptist 0 (5 inn.)
Feb. 7: Oklahoma 13, Cal State Fullerton 3
Feb. 8: Oklahoma 9, Loyola Marymount 0
Feb 9: Oklahoma 2, Long Beach State 0 (11 inn.)
Feb. 15: Oklahoma 8, Hofstra 0 (5 inn.)
Feb. 15: Oklahoma 9, Baylor 1 (5 inn.)
Feb. 16: Oklahoma 11, Hoftsra 3 (5 inn.)
Feb. 16: Oklahoma 8, Baylor 0 (5 inn.)
Feb. 22: Oklahoma 8, Tulsa 0 (5 inn.)
Feb. 23: Oklahoma 8, Wichita State 1
Feb. 24: Oklahoma 8, Bowling Green 5 (8 inn.)
Feb. 24:Oklahoma 9, Abilene Christian 1 (5 inn.)
Feb. 28: Oklahoma 9, Marshall 1 (5 inn.)
Feb. 28: Oklahoma 9, Kansas 1 (6 inn.)
March 1: Oklahoma 8, Kansas 0 (5 inn.)
March 1: Oklahoma 11, Marshall 0 (5 inn.)
March 2: Oklahoma 17, Kansas City 1 (5 inn.)
March 7: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9
March 9: Oklahoma 10, South Carolina 9
March 9: Oklahoma 2, South Carolina 1
March 12: Oklahoma 10, Tulsa 2 (6 inn.)
March 14: Oklahoma 7, Arkansas 0
March 15: Oklahoma 6, Arkansas 4
March 16: at Arkansas at 11 a.m. (TV: SECN)
March 19: at East Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
March 21: at Missouri at 5 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
March 22: at Missouri at 2 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
March 23: at Missouri at noon (TV: SECN+)
March 26: at Wichita State at 6 p.m. (TV: TBD)
March 28: vs. Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
March 29: vs. Tennessee at 2 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
March 30: vs. Tennessee at 1 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
April 1: at UT Arlington at 6 p.m. (TV: TBD)
April 4: vs. St. Thomas at 4 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
April 4: vs. UCF at 7 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
April 5: vs. UCF at 12:30 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
April 9: at Oklahoma State at 6:30 p.m. (TV: TBD)
April 12: at Alabama at 2:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)
April 13: at Alabama at 5 p.m. (TV: SECN)
April 14: at Alabama at 6 p.m. (TV: SECN)
April 18: vs. Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
April 19: vs. Mississippi State at 1 p.m. (TV: SECN)
April 20: vs. Mississippi State at 1 p.m. (TV: SECN+)
April 25: vs. Texas at 5 p.m. (TV: ESPNU)
April 26: vs. Texas at 11 a.m. (TV: ESPN2)
April 27: vs. Texas at 1 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)
May 1: at Florida at 5 p.m. (TV: SECN)
May 2: at Florida at 5 p.m. (TV: SECN)
May 3: at Florida at 2 p.m. (TV: ESPNU)
This story was edited by Josh McDaniel.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Breaking + Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Breaking + Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
