Sam Landry Delivers Clutch Complete Game Performance to Propel Oklahoma Past LSU in SEC Softball Tournament Quarterfinal Showdown
In a high-stakes SEC Tournament quarterfinal clash filled with tension, grit, and championship-level intensity, Sam Landry delivered a masterclass in pitching that proved to be the difference for Oklahoma softball. The junior right-hander tossed a complete game gem to push the Sooners past LSU, 4-2, in a contest that felt more like a super regional than a midweek postseason matchup. Her poise, precision, and perseverance on the mound ensured that Oklahoma kept its title hopes alive while sending a formidable LSU squad home earlier than expected.
Landry, who transferred to Oklahoma after two strong seasons with Louisiana, showed no signs of nerves under the bright lights of postseason play. In front of a packed crowd that featured a strong LSU contingent and plenty of Sooners faithful, she went the distance, scattering six hits, striking out seven, and allowing just two earned runs in a performance that was both dominant and emotionally grounded. It was her most complete outing of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.
Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso, no stranger to postseason success, was full of praise for Landry’s effort following the win. “That was the definition of stepping up,” Gasso said. “We needed someone to control the pace, manage their hitters, and give us a chance to win. Sam did all that and more. She’s grown so much this season, and today she gave us a championship-caliber performance.”
LSU entered the contest on a bit of a hot streak after dispatching Mississippi State in a run-rule win the previous day. With a veteran-laden lineup that included power threats like Ciara Briggs and Taylor Pleasants, the Tigers figured to test the Sooners early and often. And in the first inning, it appeared they might be ready to do just that.
After Oklahoma plated a run in the top half of the first on a sharp RBI single from second baseman Tiare Jennings, LSU answered in the bottom frame. Briggs led off with a single, and two batters later, Pleasants launched a deep drive to center field that initially looked like a two-run blast. Instead, it landed just short of the wall, and Briggs had to hold at third. A sacrifice fly tied the game at 1-1, but Landry limited the damage with a strikeout to end the inning.
From that moment on, Landry took control of the game.
She expertly mixed speeds, relied on her drop ball and curveball to generate weak contact, and never let LSU build momentum. Even when the Tigers threatened in the fourth and sixth innings—both times getting runners in scoring position with less than two outs—Landry bore down, inducing a pop-up and two clutch strikeouts to end the threats.
Her counterpart in the circle, LSU’s Sydney Berzon, was also sharp early but began to labor by the third inning. Oklahoma capitalized with a two-run burst in the top of the fourth, thanks to an RBI double from Kinzie Hansen and a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Brito. The Sooners extended their lead to 4-1, and with Landry in control, the cushion felt far more significant.
Still, LSU didn’t go quietly. In the bottom of the sixth, Pleasants doubled off the wall to drive in a run and make it 4-2. With the tying run at the plate, LSU fans rose to their feet, hoping for one final spark. But Landry answered yet again, striking out Georgia Clark on a devastating off-speed pitch that tailed away from the plate. She pumped her fist as she walked off the field, met by a roaring Oklahoma dugout.
In the seventh, Landry retired the side in order, fittingly ending the game on a groundout to third that was scooped and slung across the diamond by Brito. As the ball smacked into the first baseman’s glove, the Sooners stormed the field, celebrating their ticket to the tournament semifinals and the brilliance of their ace for the day.
“Sam is just fearless,” Jennings said postgame. “We trust her with the ball in her hand. We know she’s going to battle for us, and that kind of effort brings out the best in our whole team.”
Landry’s complete game effort marked the third of her season but easily her most significant. For a pitcher who had to navigate a deep and talented Oklahoma pitching staff to earn meaningful innings, it was a reward and a statement all in one.
“She’s earned every bit of this,” Gasso said. “She’s had to be patient. She’s had to trust the process. And today, she got the payoff for all that work.”
Beyond the mound, Oklahoma’s offense was timely and opportunistic. The Sooners out-hit LSU 8-6 and didn’t leave many chances on the bases. Jennings, Hansen, and Jayda Coleman each recorded two hits, and the top of the lineup set the tone early and often. Their execution in advancing runners and making contact in key situations illustrated the kind of discipline and experience that has defined Oklahoma softball during its current dynasty run.
LSU, meanwhile, was left to lament missed opportunities and an inability to capitalize in pressure moments. The Tigers had multiple runners on base in five of the seven innings but managed just two runs, largely due to Landry’s calm demeanor and tight command.
“We had our chances,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “Sam pitched a great game. Credit to her. I thought we hit some balls hard, but just didn’t get that big hit when we needed it. That’s what it takes in these kinds of games.”
Torina’s squad will now await its NCAA Tournament assignment. Despite the loss, LSU remains firmly in the mix for a regional hosting spot, and their overall résumé—featuring wins over ranked opponents and a strong SEC record—should put them in favorable position come Selection Sunday.
For Oklahoma, the focus now shifts to the next round of the SEC Tournament, where they will face either Tennessee or Georgia. With momentum on their side and a fresh reminder of what elite pitching can do in tight postseason games, the Sooners appear locked in and ready for more.
Landry, who downplayed her own heroics after the game, deflected the praise to her teammates and coaches.
“It’s always about the team,” she said. “I just wanted to give us a chance and trust our defense. This is the kind of environment you dream about, and I’m just glad I could be part of it today.”
While the spotlight may not always find the pitcher outside of Oklahoma’s typical headline names, Landry made sure that when it did, she seized it. And on a day when one dominant effort could swing a season’s fate, she stood tallest of all.
In the crucible of the SEC Tournament, where the margin for error is razor-thin and every pitch carries postseason weight, Sam Landry rose above the pressure. She wasn’t just good—she was unshakable, unflappable, and unforgettable. And because of that, Oklahoma marches forward, with their championship dreams very much alive.
