Oklahoma’s Sam Landry Dominates With One-Hit Gem to Push Sooners Past LSU and Into SEC Tournament Semifinals

Sam Landry was virtually untouchable Thursday afternoon, hurling a dominant one-hit shutout to lead Oklahoma softball past LSU 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. The win not only sends the top-seeded Sooners to the semifinals but also reinforces their standing as one of the premier programs in the country during postseason play.

Landry, a junior right-hander who transferred to Oklahoma from Louisiana-Lafayette, delivered a masterclass in control, poise, and execution. She silenced an LSU lineup that came into the game with momentum after a strong finish to the regular season, retiring the final 14 batters she faced and allowing just one baserunner after the third inning. Her complete-game shutout featured just one walk, six strikeouts, and no earned runs, continuing a hot streak for the Sooners’ pitching staff at the most critical time of year.

“I just trusted my stuff and let my defense do the work,” Landry said after the game. “This team’s been behind me all year, and I just wanted to come out and keep us moving forward. I felt good from the first pitch.”

Oklahoma needed every bit of Landry’s brilliance, as LSU’s pitching was nearly as stingy. Tiger starter Ali Newland allowed just two runs over six innings of work, holding the Sooners scoreless through the first four innings. But OU capitalized on a brief LSU lapse in the fifth and manufactured the only runs it would need to advance.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Jayda Coleman reached on a sharp infield single. On the next pitch, Tiare Jennings ripped a line drive into the gap in left-center field that rolled to the wall, allowing Coleman to score all the way from first. Jennings slid safely into third with a triple, giving the Sooners a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Kinzie Hansen followed with a clutch RBI single to right field, plating Jennings and giving Landry a two-run cushion to work with.

From there, the Sooners’ ace never flinched. LSU’s lone hit came in the second inning—a bloop single off the bat of Ciara Briggs that fell just beyond second base. The Tigers never threatened again, with only one baserunner reaching scoring position all game. Landry worked ahead in the count consistently, inducing soft contact and trusting her infield to make the plays behind her.

“She’s just a competitor,” Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso said postgame. “Sam has been rock solid for us down the stretch. She’s got that look in her eye right now where she’s not going to be denied. And I love seeing that in the postseason.”

The Sooners’ defense backed Landry up with a clean, crisp effort. Jennings made a diving stop at second base to rob Georgia Clark of a hit in the top of the fourth, and shortstop Avery Hodge turned a slick double play to erase a leadoff walk in the third. The Sooners didn’t commit an error and executed every fundamental play with the calm confidence of a team that has made deep tournament runs before.

For LSU, the loss brings an end to an up-and-down season in which the Tigers showed flashes of brilliance but struggled for consistency, especially at the plate. Thursday’s loss marked the third time this season LSU was shut out, and their inability to adjust to Landry’s offspeed pitches proved fatal.

“We just couldn’t string anything together offensively,” LSU head coach Beth Torina said. “Give credit to Landry—she kept us off balance and made the big pitches when she needed to. Our girls fought, but we didn’t have an answer for her today.”

The Tigers entered the game with high hopes after an emotional win over Florida in the opening round, but they never found a rhythm against Landry, who mixed speeds beautifully and painted the corners with pinpoint accuracy. The loss may not end LSU’s season—depending on how the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee views their resume—but it leaves them on uncertain footing as they await their postseason fate.

For Oklahoma, meanwhile, the victory is just the latest in a string of postseason dominance. The Sooners are seeking their fifth consecutive SEC Tournament title in what could be their final season in the league before transitioning to the Big Ten. This year’s squad is loaded with talent across the board, but it’s Landry’s emergence that could be the difference in this championship push.

“She’s got the stuff, the mindset, and the toughness to carry us in the postseason,” Gasso said of Landry. “And she’s showing it game by game.”

While Landry may have stolen the spotlight, Oklahoma’s lineup continues to deliver in clutch moments. Coleman’s aggressiveness on the bases, Jennings’ timely triple, and Hansen’s RBI single are all signs that this offense can still be explosive when it counts. Even in a low-scoring game, the Sooners showed the kind of situational hitting and smart base running that wins championships.

Oklahoma now advances to Friday’s semifinal round, where they’ll face either Alabama or Missouri. Landry’s performance raises the question of whether Gasso might ride her arm again in the next round or give the ball to another ace on the staff such as Nicole May or Kierston Deal, both of whom have also had strong seasons. Whatever decision is made, it’s clear the Sooners have the depth and discipline to adapt.

As the postseason heats up, the Sooners’ experience, championship DNA, and pitching strength are all beginning to align at the perfect time. Landry’s one-hit shutout is not just a stat line—it’s a statement. Oklahoma isn’t just here to compete; they’re here to win it all again.

“I’m just proud of the way we’re playing right now,” Landry said. “We’re playing for each other, and we’re locked in. That’s the key for us—staying together and playing with passion. We’re chasing something special.”

With every pitch, Sam Landry is proving she might just be the arm that carries Oklahoma to the next championship stage. Her command, poise, and ability to shut down a dangerous LSU team on a big stage confirms she is ready for the bright lights. And with the way this team is playing behind her, the Sooners are once again the team to beat in the SEC.

The semifinal matchup promises more drama and another big-stage test for the Sooners, but for now, the story is Sam Landry—a pitcher who’s found her groove and, perhaps, her postseason legacy. If Oklahoma continues to get this level of pitching, there may not be a lineup in the country that can stop them.