NORMAN — After four years together, Patty Gasso knows when Paige Parker is lying.
The Oklahoma softball coach can tell when her senior pitcher is being truthful about her pain — and when she's downplaying it for the sake of her team.
With a berth to the super regional on the line, Gasso wanted to put the ball in Parker's hand for Sunday afternoon's eventual 7-0 win against Missouri — but she also wanted to make sure doing so was the right decision for Parker and for the Sooners.
Less than 48 hours earlier, Parker and her family were involved in a three-car pile-up on Highway 9, and soreness kept Parker from pitching in Saturday's win.