Sam Landry’s Perfect Game Highlights Oklahoma Sooners’ Run-Rule Victory Over Baylor
The world of college softball witnessed a rare and spectacular feat on February 23, 2025, as the Oklahoma Sooners softball team extended its dominance with a historic 8-0 run-rule victory over Baylor. While the outcome of the game was impressive on its own, it was the performance of Oklahoma pitcher Sam Landry that stole the spotlight. In what can only be described as an extraordinary display of skill and composure, Landry threw a perfect game, helping the Sooners cruise to yet another impressive victory in the early stages of the 2025 season.
In the annals of college softball, perfect games are a rarity. They are the ultimate testament to a pitcher’s mastery over the game—an achievement that requires a pitcher to retire all 21 batters they face without allowing a single baserunner. Landry’s accomplishment was all the more remarkable as she became only the second player in Oklahoma softball history to throw a perfect game in a run-rule win, joining the ranks of elite pitchers who have left their mark on the sport.
The stage was set for a dominant performance as Oklahoma entered the game riding high off of a string of successful victories early in the season. Under the leadership of head coach Patty Gasso, the Sooners were already showing signs of being a national title contender once again. The addition of Landry to their pitching staff had strengthened an already formidable rotation, and her perfect game against Baylor was the crowning achievement of an incredible individual performance that left fans, players, and coaches in awe.
The Beginning of a Perfect Night
The game got off to a fast start, with the Sooners’ offense setting the tone early. Oklahoma wasted no time in putting runs on the board. The Sooners’ offense, led by senior infielder Tiare Jennings and the powerful freshman Jayda Coleman, wasted no time in asserting themselves. Jennings, who has long been one of the program’s most consistent hitters, contributed immediately by blasting a deep shot into the outfield for a double. It was clear that the Sooners had come to play, with the early offense quickly pushing Baylor back on their heels.
The run-rule win came into play in the fifth inning when Oklahoma had built an 8-0 lead over the Bears. It was at this moment that Landry truly began to shine. With a perfect game still intact, she was on the brink of something extraordinary. Despite the offense’s success, it was clear that the game was going to be defined by Landry’s performance in the circle.
Landry’s control over her pitches was nothing short of remarkable. Every pitch was precise, every batter faced was a challenge, and she responded with poise and confidence. Whether it was a devastating rise ball, a sweeping curveball, or her pinpoint-fastball, Landry had every weapon at her disposal and used them to perfection. The Baylor hitters, despite their best efforts, had no answer for the high-level pitching that Landry was displaying.
The Perfect Game Unfolds
As the game progressed, the tension slowly began to build. Landry’s perfect game was still intact through the first three innings, and it was becoming increasingly evident that something special was unfolding. The Sooners continued to rack up runs, pushing the score to 6-0 by the fourth inning. Yet, it was the growing silence on the Baylor bench, as well as the increasingly expectant murmurs from the Oklahoma crowd, that signaled just how rare and incredible Landry’s achievement was turning out to be.
Each inning was a test, but Landry never wavered. In the third inning, Baylor’s most dangerous hitter, Julia Dominguez, stepped into the box with a chance to break up the perfect game. Landry calmly fired a fastball on the outside corner that Dominguez could only foul off, followed by a curveball that froze her at the plate for strike three. The crowd erupted in applause, recognizing that Landry had not only outlasted one of the best hitters in the Big 12 but had done so with poise beyond her years.
With every inning, the stakes grew higher. As the game entered the fifth inning, the Sooners were just three outs away from securing another run-rule victory, and Landry was still perfect. The tension was palpable, but the Oklahoma pitcher maintained her focus. The Baylor players stepped into the batter’s box, but Landry’s electric stuff left them helpless. Her mix of pitches, each one seemingly sharper than the last, made it clear that this wasn’t just a regular game—this was history in the making.
A Historic Moment
By the time the final frame arrived, Oklahoma’s offense had added two more runs, creating an 8-0 lead and putting them within striking distance of the mercy-rule finish. Landry had retired 15 consecutive batters, and the sense of history was evident in the air. The only thing standing between her and a perfect game was the final six batters of the contest.
Baylor’s leadoff hitter in the sixth inning was catcher Vanessa Cruz. Cruz had been a tough out earlier in the game, working long at-bats that tested Landry’s stamina. But now, under the weight of the perfect game hanging in the balance, Landry rose to the occasion. She delivered a curveball that Cruz couldn’t catch up to, striking her out looking.
Five outs to go.
Next up was Baylor’s shortstop, Emily Taylor. Landry found herself ahead in the count early, and she didn’t let up. With a devastating rise ball that Taylor swung and missed on, Landry recorded another strikeout. Four outs to go.
The perfect game was inching closer.
The next batter, designated hitter Alexis Garcia, swung at a pitch that caught the outside corner of the plate and fouled it off. Landry worked her way to an 0-2 count, and with a final, lethal fastball that Garcia couldn’t catch up with, Landry made her third strikeout in a row. Three outs to go.
At this point, there was no doubt that Landry was fully in control. With every pitch, she was getting closer to securing one of the rarest accomplishments in all of sports. The final three outs would determine whether she would join the elite group of pitchers who had thrown perfect games at the college level, and Landry’s focus never wavered.
The next batter was left fielder Brianna McAllister. Landry delivered a beautiful curveball that painted the inside corner of the plate, getting McAllister to swing through for strike one. The next pitch, a fastball, whizzed by McAllister, and suddenly Landry had two strikes on her. With one final pitch, a rise ball that McAllister could only foul off, the Sooners pitcher was one strike away from perfection.
The tension in the stadium reached a fever pitch, and the Oklahoma faithful held their collective breath as Landry delivered the final pitch. It was another rise ball, and this time McAllister swung and missed, securing the final out of the game and completing the perfect game. The crowd erupted in joy, knowing they had just witnessed something that would go down in Oklahoma softball lore.
A Standout Performance
Landry’s perfect game was the highlight of a memorable evening. For many, it was a testament to her remarkable growth as a pitcher and a symbol of the dominance that the Oklahoma Sooners have come to embody over the past few years. But Landry’s performance also showcased her mental toughness and ability to rise to the occasion, even when faced with the immense pressure of a perfect game.
Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso, who has led the Sooners to multiple national championships, expressed her pride in Landry’s performance following the game. “Sam has been such an incredible addition to our team,” Gasso said. “Tonight, she showed why she’s one of the best pitchers in the country. Her composure, her skill, her focus—those are the qualities that define her as a player.”
Landry’s perfect game was also a significant achievement for Oklahoma softball, as it reinforced the team’s status as one of the nation’s elite programs. It was a perfect example of the Sooners’ high-level pitching staff, which has been one of the cornerstones of their success over the years. Landry’s performance only added to the growing excitement surrounding the team’s prospects for the 2025 season.
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, the Sooners will face more challenges and tougher competition, but Sam Landry’s perfect game will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments in the program’s history. For Landry, it was the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. It was a statement that she had arrived and was ready to make her mark on the college softball world.
For fans of Oklahoma softball, the perfect game served as a reminder of the extraordinary talent that graces the field in Norman. With a player like Landry leading the way, the Sooners appear poised to contend for another national championship. And as for Sam Landry, she will forever be remembered as the pitcher who delivered a perfect game in a historic run-rule victory over Baylor.