This season has had its ups and downs for the Sooners.
Heading into the season, Oklahoma, winners of three consecutive national championships and 53 consecutive games, looked unbeatable.
After starting the year 18-0, the Sooners’ 71-game winning streak was snapped by Louisiana on March 3.
Many assumed Oklahoma would rebound and not lose a game the rest of the season like last year’s team, but that has not been the case. Following OU’s first series loss to Texas since 2009 and a shocking loss to BYU on Apr. 12, college softball looks like it will have multiple teams competing for the top spot.
For a roster that features 10 seniors, head coach Patty Gasso wants to make sure this group doesn’t let the pressure get the best of them.
“We talk a lot about it,” Gasso said on Tuesday. “This is the most decorated and the most elite senior class softball has ever seen, in my opinion.”
With only two more series until postseason play begins, those seniors will help try to guide the Sooners into playing their best at the right time.
Wrapping up Big 12 play
Patty Gasso knows how important it is to finish strong in conference play.
Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State are all vying for the top seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and Gasso knows things can get wild. Despite her team facing unusual adversity at times this season, she still likes where the Sooners stand.
“We’re deciding our own destiny here,” Gasso said. “I love the idea that our last weekend is at home, it’s gonna be huge. I think the next two weeks are really going to tell us a big story.”
Residing in the conference where OU has won seven national championships, 14 Big 12 regular season titles and seven conference tournament titles, the Sooners are hoping to add more hardware before moving on to greener pastures.
As the Sooners transition to the SEC next fall, Gasso hopes the legacy and memories of Oklahoma playing in the Big 12 will not be forgotten.
“All the talk is SEC and we’re going to be excited about it,” Gasso said. “But my whole life has been the Big 8 and the Big 12 and so my best memories come through this conference. Back when Nebraska and (Texas) A&M and those teams were in this conference, it was really good.”
“It was kind of that friendly competition and now it’s just completely different where you’re like, ‘It is what it is,’ and all I care about is that I lead the Sooners the right way.”
Following last weekend’s series with Houston, Gasso likes where the Sooners are at, but they need to be better with the little things.
Despite outstanding pitching and defense, the Sooners went 9-41 with runners in scoring position.
“We are still leaving too many runners in scoring position,” Gasso said. “For leaving too many runners in scoring position, at least you’re getting on. So I like the direction we’re going.”
Second base duo showing early success
Alynah Torres is trying to soak it all in before the season concludes.
Torres and sophomore Avery Hodge have both been getting playing time at second base the last few games, as Patty Gasso experiments with which lineup works best.
Having primarily played right field along with first and third base since she transferred to the Sooners from Arizona State after the 2022 season, Torres has now found a home at second base.
Despite being unfamiliar with moving around the diamond, Torres has enjoyed playing everywhere.
“It’s super fun,” Torres said. “I take advantage of it because I’m not going to be doing this one day and I think my body gives me the ability to do things I can do.”
Now about to go on her last road trip, Torres is trying to make the most of the rest of the season.
“I haven’t really thought about it, but I think it’s gonna be kind of bittersweet,” Torres said. “I think road trips are fun because that’s when you get close with your teammates because you’re doing everything together.”
Looking ahead
Oklahoma softball is gearing up for its final road trip of the season this weekend against UCF (26-18, 10-11).
The Knights are fresh off the wrong end of a three-game sweep last weekend against Baylor in Waco, where they only mustered one run against the Bears.
For the many seniors on OU, it will likely be the final time they leave the state to play for the Sooners. OU hopes to end the Big 12 road slate with a successful weekend after dropping its last series on the road to Texas, its first series loss against the Longhorns since 2009.
Despite the outcome against Texas and BYU, the Sooners have found themselves starting to roll again. They are currently on a five-game winning streak and hold a one-game lead over Texas at the top of the Big 12 standings.
Last weekend’s series against Houston saw similar results to what the Sooners have been producing over the last few years — two run-rule wins, and OU’s hitters only striking out once the entire series.
As the end of the regular season approaches, Gasso wants to see her team stack performances like that on top of each other, beginning when they face UCF at 5 p.m. Friday in Orlando on ESPN+.
“I think we just want consistency,” Gasso said. “We’re winning a lot of games (and) we’re still in charge of our own destiny. I think it’s having zero regrets as we go through this and finish it.”
