NORMAN — OU softball got back to its winning ways Wednesday, but Sooners coach Patty Gasso was far from happy.

After a 9-0, five-inning win over Texas A&M-Commerce, where the bats came alive for three innings and the pitching and defense solid, Gasso was focusing on OU’s scoreless fourth inning.

“I wasn’t really pleased with the way the game ended for us offensively where Alynah (Torres) comes up and just drills one down the line and then we have three straight outs the same way,” Gasso said. “It’s unacceptable for this team. It’s underachieving for this team. It’s not understanding the situation and the circumstance for this team. And that is not relentless.

“In order to get what you want out of this conference you’ve got to be ready to play and never waste a pitch, never waste an at-bat, or you’re gonna get beat.

“And that’s something that we need to start to showcase a little bit more. We’ve been running through our schedule OK, doing enough, doing well, but we’ve got to go to another level.”

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Gasso talked the day before the game about making the game Wednesday much more about themselves rather than the opponent after Sunday’s loss that snapped the Sooners’ NCAA-record 71-game losing streak.

For the most part, they came through.

But after Torres led off the fourth with a single down the left-field line, Quincee Lilio popped out to third, Riley Ludlam flied out to center and Maya Bland fouled out to third to end the inning.

The Sooners (19-1) get another chance to show off progress Friday when they open Big 12 play with the first of a three-game series against Iowa State.

Here are three other quick takeaways from the win:

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Kierston Deal continues to mow ’em down

Sophomore Kierston Deal got the start and continued to excel, throwing three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Deal allowed a hit to the game’s first batter, then retired the last nine she faced.

“Just definitely going out there and having confidence, trusting my defense and trusting our offense,” Deal said. “Just pitching out there and being free has been really nice.”

Over her last four outings, Deal has thrown 19 scoreless innings, allowing eight hits and walking four with 23 strikeouts.

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OU gets off to a quick start

While Gasso wasn’t thrilled with the ending of it, she was more pleased with the way the game started.

After two of the first three hitters reached base, freshman Kasidi Pickering delivered a two-run double on a full count. After Jayda Coleman was intentionally walked, freshman Ella Parker blasted a line-drive three-run homer to right.

“It was almost expected,” Gasso said of the quick start. “I think they were ready to get back on the field and make things right so to put five up that early was a good start for us.”

The Sooners added another run in the second before scoring three in the third to move into run-rule territory.

The third included another RBI double from Pickering, a Coleman RBI single and Avery Hodge’s RBI double.

The Sooners have now won 10 consecutive games after a loss and five straight shutouts, outscoring opponents 56-0 in their last five games following a loss.

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Flipping the switch

After the opening weekend at Love’s Field, construction crews once again took over the space to continue work on the stadium.

There was some progress on the stadium from the opening weekend, including the addition of some of the permanent sound system in the outfield.

Construction will continue throughout much of the season, as the Sooners continue to practice at Marita Hynes Field during the week.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma softball run-rules Texas A&M Commerce in five innings