Tag: 2024 Oklahoma Sooners Softball

Patty Gasso, Oklahoma earn NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year

After another historic season, the Oklahoma Sooners earned the NFCA’s National Coaching Staff of the Year award.

It was another historic season for the Oklahoma Sooners, who earned their fourth consecutive national championship and eighth overall. After a 59-7 season, Big 12 tournament title, and national title, Patty Gasso and her staff were awarded the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year award for 2024.

The award is voted on by member Division 1 NCAA coaches.

It is the third straight season and the seventh time Gasso and her coaching staff have received the award.

It was a masterful job by Gasso, associate head coaches Jennifer Rocha and J.T. Gasso, and assistant coach Falepolima Steele. In a year where they lost a conference series for the first time in more than a decade and missed out on the regular season title, Gasso and company helped the team rally during a postseason run in which they lost just one game.

Of their 59 wins, 27 came by way of run rule, and the Sooners’ pitching staff recorded 23 shutouts.

In addition to the successful completion of the sport’s first four-peat, Oklahoma opened the largest on-campus softball stadium at Love’s Field. With an expanded capacity, the Sooners averaged 4,328 fans per game for a record attendance of 108,156.

Oklahoma finished the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation after sweeping the Texas Longhorns in the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] Finals by a combined score of 16-7.

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Oklahoma Softball Championship celebration open to the public

Oklahoma to host championship celebration at Love’s Field. Festivities are open to the public.

The Oklahoma Sooners made history with their fourth-consecutive national championship. It is the first time in the history of the sport that a program has won four straight.

Oklahoma did so with an 8-4 win over the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns on Thursday evening. It’s the second time in three years that OU won the title in the championship series over their Red River Rivals. In the two-game sweep, the bats came alive, outscoring the Horns 16-7.

It was the most watched Women’s College World Series Finals ever.

To celebrate [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] and her championship squad, the University of Oklahoma is hosting a celebration at [autotag]Love’s Field[/autotag] Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT, which is open to the public. For those not able to be in attendance, fans can stream the celebration live on SoonerSports.com.

Details for the celebration can be found below from the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department.

From the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department

Fans Invited to Championship Celebration Saturday

NORMANĀ ā€“Ā The University of Oklahoma softball team invites fans to celebrate the programā€™s fourth straight and eighth overall national title Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m. CT at Loveā€™s Field. Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Admission is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved seating for season ticket holders will be general admission in sections 6-10 with passes accessible later today (Friday) via their ticket account. Public parking will be available in the Lloyd Noble Center lot.

Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the national championship trophy from 5-6 p.m. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a championship poster.

Programming is set to begin at approximately 6 p.m. and fans will hear from head coach Patty Gasso, members of the team and more. National championship merchandise will be available for purchase from the Sooner Shop and limited concessions will be available. Fans are permitted to bring one clear, empty, plastic water bottle (17 oz. or less) and OU’s clear-bag policy will be in effect for the event.

Fans who can’t be in attendance can watch the celebration viaĀ https://soonersports.com/watch/.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma Softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and likeĀ Oklahoma SoftballĀ on Facebook.

Oklahoma vs. Texas Women’s College World Series Final most watched ever

Oklahoma’s win over Texas to clinch their eighth national title set a new viewership record.

The Oklahoma Sooners completed another historic season with their 8-4 win over the Texas Longhorns. The Red River Rivals competed in front of the largest viewership ever for a [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] Finals.

The Sooners and Longhorns averaged 2 million viewers and peaked at 2.5 million, setting a new high, up 3% from the previous record from 2015. This year’s viewership for the finals was up 24% from 2023. They were also the second and third most streamed softball games on ESPN+

It was a back-and-forth affair through the first half of the game, with Texas taking the lead twice before the Sooners took the lead for good in the fourth inning and pulled away in the sixth.

More: Best photos from Sooners 8-4 win over Texas Longhorns

The Red River Showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation came down to the wire.

There was a lot on the line in this rivalry matchup for the championship. Texas was trying to win their first title, and the Oklahoma Sooners were looking to win their record fourth-straight and eighth overall.

The game reached its climax in the sixth inning as the Longhorns pulled within one, but Oklahoma pulled away in the bottom half with three runs to take an insurmountable four-run lead into the seventh.

In a game that was filled with drama and had several lead changes, Kelly Maxwell worked a drama-free 1-2-3 inning to close out the win.

College softball is growing across the nation. Programs around the country regularly set weekend attendance records, and viewership has grown across the sport.

Oklahoma’s dominance has drawn new fans to the sport, both to witness their greatness and root for their downfall. Either way, the sport is growing at a rapid pace and that’s great for the athletes and for the game.

More: Social media reacts to the Sooners win over Texas to clinch national title

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Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners national championship clinching win over Texas

A look at the best photos from Oklahoma’s 8-4 win over Texas to clinch their fourth-straight national championship.

The Oklahoma Sooners battled for five innings, trading leads with the Texas Longhorns, before pulling away in true OU fashion in the bottom of the sixth to secure their fourth straight national title.

In the win and over the course of the season, the Sooners showed resilience. They overcame a pair of deficits to beat Texas and gained big hits from [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] and [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] to erase those Longhorns leads.

It was the Sanders’ three-run double that put Oklahoma ahead, 5-3, for good in the fourth inning. And when Texas cut the lead to one in the sixth inning, the Sooners responded in a way that has become characteristic of this championship run.

Oklahoma used patience at the plate and timely hitting to set the stage for [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] to give the Sooners some insurance in the form of a four-run lead heading into the top of the seventh. And over the last four years, a four-run lead was an automatic win.

Four straight national titles is an incredible feat that may never be matched. Only one other time has a team had an opportunity to pull it off and that was more than 30 years ago.

What [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] and her team have accomplished sets them apart as one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports. And we’ve been witnesses to its greatness.

Here are the best photos from Oklahoma’s 8-4 win over Texas to earn the national title.

Oklahoma Sooners beat No. 1 Texas 8-4, win 4th straight national championship

The Oklahoma Sooners made history as the first team to win four consecutive national championships with their 8-4 win over the Texas Longhorns.

The Oklahoma Sooners made history in their 8-4 win over the Texas Longhorns. The Sooners won their fourth-straight national championship, and this senior class capped off the most successful run in softball history.

The Texas Longhorns got the scoring going in the top of the second on Kayden Henry’s RBI single. But [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Sooners up one.

The Longhorns tied the game up in the third off of starter [autotag]Karlie Keeney[/autotag]. [autotag]Peytn Monticelli[/autotag] came in with the bases loaded and kept the game tied 2-2. Texas then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, however, the Sooners began to take control. Consecutive singles by [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag], and [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] set the stage for [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag]. Sanders proceeded to launch a double to the right-center gap to clear the bases and put Oklahoma up 5-3.

[autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] took over in the fifth and had a dominant outing with a 1-2-3 inning and got two outs in the sixth before [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] came in with runners on second and third. Maxwell induced a ground ball by Mia Scott, and a Texas run scored to make it 5-4. But Scott got caught off the bag, and [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] flipped the ball to Sanders to get the final out of the inning and leave a runner stranded on third.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sooners ran away from the Longhorns. Boone earned a one-out single, Sanders walked, and Hodge was hit by a pitch to load the bases. [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] added to the Sooners lead with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. With two outs in the inning, [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] continued her incredible postseason with a two-RBI single to put Oklahoma up 8-4.

In the top of the seventh, Maxwell went up against the heart of the Texas lineup. Maxwell got Viviana Martinez to fly out and struck out Big 12 Player of the Year Reese Atwood before getting Katie Stewart to ground out to [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag], who made a perfect throw over to Sanders to get the final out and send the Sooners into the record books.

Maxwell earned her second save of the NCAA Tournament and earned Most Outstanding Player, going 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to the national championship.

It’s the Sooners’ eighth national title and their seventh since 2013. With four straight national titles, Oklahoma is the only program to accomplish this feat. The Sooners move into a tie for second with the Arizona Wildcats for most national titles.

Seniors [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag], [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], and [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] will go down as the most decorated class in softball history, with four national championships in their career.

With eight national titles, [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] is now tied for the most in the history of the sport.

It was an incredible run for the Oklahoma Sooners, who lost just one game during the postseason, dating back to their Big 12 tournament title run. In the two games against Texas the Sooners outscored their Red River Rivals 16-7 to win the national title.

Contact/Follow usĀ @SoonersWire on X, and like our page onĀ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Best photos from Oklahoma Sooners 8-3 win over the Texas Longhorns

The Oklahoma Sooners came out swinging in their game-one win over the Texas Longhorns. The Sooners collected three home runs and three doubles to power past the Longhorns to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] got things going with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and Oklahoma got back-to-back home runs from [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] and [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] in the third inning and never looked back.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] threw another complete game, recording eight strikeouts. She allowed just four hits and four walks to arguably the best offense in the country.

Now the Sooners are just one win away from capturing their fourth-straight national championship. But the Texas Longhorns won’t go quietly into the Oklahoma City night. The Sooners will be challenged in game two tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 8-3 win over the Texas Longhorns.

More: Social Media reacts to Oklahoma’s 8-3 win over Texas in WCWS

Oklahoma Sooners beat Texas Longhorns 8-3 in game one of WCWS Final

Sooners hit three home runs and Kelly Maxwell pitched another great game to lead Oklahoma to an 8-3 win over Texas in game one of the Women’s College World Series championship.

The Oklahoma Sooners got off to a hot start and never looked back in their game one matchup with the Texas Longhorns, taking the opener of the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] championship 8-3.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] picked up right where she left off on Monday when she threw 148 pitches over eight innings and threw another gem. Through five innings, the Texas Longhorns had only mustered one run, a solo shot in the first inning. Though Texas did some damage in the sixth, Maxwell allowed just one earned run in her complete game.

The Sooners got going offensively early in this one. Jayda Coleman was hit by a pitch, and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] hit a two-run home run. It was the 98th home run of her career and 11th in the Women’s College World Series.

Texas cut the deficit in half on a Mia Scott home run to right field. Maxwell settled in to limit the damage and had a 1-2-3 second inning. And the Sooners rewarded her with some insurance in the top of the third.

[autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] led off the inning with a single, and with one out, Kinzie Hansen drove a 2-1 pitch to left-center field to give Oklahoma a 4-1 lead. True freshman [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] followed it up with a home run of her own to extend the lead to 5-1.

In the top of the fifth, the Sooners added to their lead when Hansen doubled, and Pickering forced an errant throw on a close play at first base, allowing Hansen to score to make it 6-1.

Pinch-hitting in the top of the sixth, [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] was hit by a pitch, and [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] was brought in to pinch run. Hodge took second on a wild pitch and then third base when Reese Atwood lost track of how many outs were in the inning and lobbed the ball up in the air. That became a huge moment in the inning as Jennings singled to bring Hodge in for the 7-1 lead.

Texas made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs and threatened for more before Maxwell locked it down to limit the damage.

The Sooners went ahead 8-3 in the top of the seventh when [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] doubled and then advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Atwood got aggressive again and tried to pick Brito off at third base, but the ball hit the Sooners third basemen. Brito scored to extend the Sooners lead.

Maxwell locked in and earned a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the final two hitters, including a called strike three on Viviana Martinez to end the game. Maxwell earned the 23rd win of the season and put Oklahoma one win away from capturing their fourth-straight national title.

She allowed just one earned run on four hits and four walks and recorded eight strikeouts for the second straight day. It was another fantastic performance and the Sooners offense provided more run support against a really good Texas pitching staff.

Jennings led the way on her birthday with a 2-for-4 effort with three RBIs. Parker and Hansen each had two hits as well.

More: How to Watch Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns in the Women’s College World Series Championship

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What did Alyssa Brito say to Jayda Coleman before walk-off home run?

Alyssa Brito took a moment with Jayda Coleman before her walk-off home run to reflect on what matters most.

The Oklahoma Sooners fell behind early in their elimination game against Florida but found a way to rally to tie the game and force extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] propelled the Sooners to their fifth-straight championship series with a solo home run to win the game.

But that wasn’t the first big moment for Coleman. She had an opportunity to tie the game in the sixth inning, instead hitting a shallow pop fly. Ella Parker did tie the game, which set the stage for Coleman’s heroics, but you could see the frustration settling in for Oklahoma’s star centerfielder.

“Yeah I had been a little frustrated all game,” Coleman said. “I just wanna do anything to help my team, and I wasn’t really able to do that.”

So, before Coleman led off the bottom of the eighth inning for Sooners, fellow senior Alyssa Brito came to her and prayed with Coleman.

Coleman said, “And Brito, you know, she slowed me down, and she prayed over me. And she was just like, surrender it all. Don’t try to control anything. Just go for it. No matter what, I’m not justified by whatever the at-bat is. So even if I hit a home run, Jesus loves me. If I would’ve struck out, Jesus still loves me. I think that just really just put me into my foundation.”

Faith has been at the center of the Sooners’ program for years. The team often has a prayer circle after the game that often includes players from the other team.

Brito and Coleman took a moment in the middle of a high-stakes game, right before a high-leverage situation, to reflect and remember what’s most important to them and where their security lies.

 

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Kelly Maxwell shows resiliency in extra-inning win over Florida Gators

Kelly Maxwell showed the heart of a warrior in her 148 pitch complete game effort to beat the Florida Gators in extra innings.

For the first time since 2022, the Oklahoma Sooners faced an elimination game in the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag]. In their winner-take-all game against Florida, Oklahoma faced an early deficit.

Sooners starter [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] gave up home runs in each of the first three innings, and the Sooners trailed 5-2 after three. But that’s where the scoring stopped for Florida as Maxwell took her game to another level and shut down the red-hot Gators offense over the final five innings, allowing zero runs.

ā€œI think I took it personally, honestly,ā€ Maxwell said. ā€œI knew this team was going to fight back.ā€

It wasn’t a crisp performance, as Maxwell allowed five runs on four hits and five walks. But she recorded eight strikeouts and threw an incredible 148 pitches to lead the Sooners to a win.

About her performance, Maxwell said, “I flipped a switch, chose my fight, and went to war.”

That she did. She was a warrior for the Sooners, overcoming a tight strike zone on a day when her drop ball wasn’t consistent.

But it was an effort to remember. She’s been everything the Oklahoma Sooners could have hoped for from the circle as the veteran ace of the staff. She’s been cool, calm, and collected throughout. Even yesterday, Maxwell kept an even keel as she continued to battle through Florida’s lineup.

And now she gets an opportunity to play for a national championship. The Sooners will take on the Texas Longhorns in the championship series starting Wednesday night.

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Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 6-5 extra-inning win over Florida

Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 6-5 walk-off win over the Florida Gators in extra innings.

The Oklahoma Sooners needed all the magic they could muster in their 6-5 extra-inning win over the Florida Gators.

True freshman [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] had a huge day, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Her final RBI of the day tied the game at five after driving in [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag]. Hodge was 2-for-4 and had the double that set up Parker’s game-tying RBI. [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag], who hit just her second home run since April 16, came through with a two-run bomb to pull the Sooners within one.

And then it was [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] providing the extra-inning heroics with her walk-off home run. It was Coleman’s 13th home run of the season and the first time Oklahoma had a walk-off home run in the Women’s College World Series since 2016, according to ESPN.

And it was all the more possible because [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] rebounded from a sluggish start. Maxwell allowed five runs, all via home run, in the first three innings. She showed incredible toughness to then hold the Florida Gators scoreless over the final five innings.

Now, the Sooners move on to the championship series, where the Texas Longhorns await. Oklahoma’s looking for its fourth-straight national title.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners win over the Florida Gators in extra innings.

More: Social media reacts to Oklahoma Sooners walk-off win over the Florida Gators