Tag: Alyssa Brito

Oklahoma Sooners open NCAA Tournament with 9-0 win over Cleveland State

Nicole May dominated Cleveland State with five shutout innings, nine strikeouts and no walks. Freshman Kasidi Pickering hit two home runs, Ella Parker added three RBIs, and Tiare Jennings ended the game with a walk-off home run to lead the Sooners to a 9-0 win.

In what was a pitchers duel through the first few innings turned into a rout as the Oklahoma Sooners beat the Cleveland State Vikings 9-0 to move to 1-0 in the Norman Regional.

The Sooners received. fantastic performance from senior [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], who recorded nine strikeouts in five innings of shutout ball. She allowed just three hits and didn’t surrender a walk in the win.

[autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] got the scoring started for the Sooners in the second inning with a solo home run, one of two blasts she had in her first NCAA tournament game.

May and Cleveland State starter Melissa Holzopfel battled to a 1-0 game through three innings. Holzopfel even eliminated a Sooners scoring threat in the bottom of the third, escaping a bases loaded jam by striking out [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag].

But the Sooners broke through in the fourth inning to pull away from the Vikings.

Pickering singled and pinch runner [autotag]Hannah Coor[/autotag] advanced to second on [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] sacrifice bunt. After Avery Hodge grounded back to the pitcher for the second out of the inning, the Sooners bats came to life.

[autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] singled to bring in Coor and make it 2-0. [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] followed that with a triple on a diving attempt by Cleveland State’s center fielder. That brought home Boone and put Oklahoma up 3-0. [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] continued her incredible postseason by driving in Coleman, and the Sooners had a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the fifth.

As she had all game, May was electric, getting a 1-2-3 inning to put the red hot Sooners offense back at the plate.

Pickering hit her second home run of the game and ninth of the season in the fifth to put the Sooners up 5-0. In the bottom of the sixth, Parker had a two-run double and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] hit the 93rd home run of her career to end the game in walk-off, run-rule fashion.

Jennings’ home run was the 93rd of her career and tied her for fourth in NCAA history.

Nicole May’s nine-strikeout performance was a season-high. She was electric from the circle, showing off great location and power, and mixed up her pitches well. She struck out half of the 18 Cleveland State batters she faced to move to 13-2 on the season.

Coleman, Parker, and Jennings were really good, combining to go 5-for-10 with six RBIs. Parker and fellow freshman Pickering were instrumental in the victory, showing that they’re ready for the bright lights of the NCAA tournament.

The win put the Sooners on the winning side of the Norman Regional, where they’ll face the Oregon Ducks on day two. Oregon run ruled Boston earlier in the day Friday to advance in the winners bracket.

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No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners beat No. 1 Texas Longhorns 5-1, win Big 12 tournament championship

Kelly Maxwell recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just two hits to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to their second consecutive Big 12 tournament title.

Oklahoma Sooners pitcher [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] threw a gem, and the Sooners enacted Red River revenge on the Texas Longhorns to win the Big 12 tournament title.

Maxwell threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits and three walks. She recorded seven strikeouts against a vaunted Texas offense that was averaging just over 15 runs per game in its last five outings. Maxwell and the Sooners snapped Texas’ 18-game winning streak, which started with the second game of the OU-Texas three-game series in Austin.

Batting as the visiting team, the Oklahoma Sooners started early. [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] reached on an error by first baseman Katie Stewart. [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] picked up an infield single, beating the throw from second base on a slow dribbler. [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] made her presence felt with a double to score Coleman. With Parker on third, [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] came through with a fielder’s choice RBI to put Oklahoma up 2-0 in the first inning.

Maxwell worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first but ran into trouble in the second. After a couple of strikeouts, Maxwell surrendered a walk to Joley Mitchell and Kayden Henry drove in the Longhorns only run of the game with a triple to right center. Maxwell ended the threat, leaving Henry stranded on third.

Like they’ve done so many times, the Sooners responded in the top of the third inning. Parker singled and advanced on a wild pitch. She came around to score on a hard-hit ball by [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] to put Oklahoma up 3-1. Hansen brought Brito around to make it 4-1. Hansen had a double that she nearly turned into a triple, but the Texas relay throw was just in time to get Hansen at third and retire the side.

The Longhorns couldn’t take advantage of a lead-off single in the top of the third as Maxwell retired the next three Longhorns in order.

The Sooners tacked on another run in the top of the fourth after [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] reached on another Texas error. Boone singled up the middle to score Torres to put the Sooners up 5-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Maxwell needed just six pitches to retire the Longhorns in order. In the fifth, she surrendered a leadoff walk but struck out the next two Longhorns before inducing a ground out to end the inning.

In the sixth, Maxwell ran into trouble after she walked and hit Texas batters to put runners on first and second with nobody out for Big 12 Player of the Year [autotag]Reese Atwood[/autotag]. Atwood lined a ball to straight away center field that Jayda Coleman played perfectly to prevent the Longhorns from pushing two runs across.

But then [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] and Jennifer Rocha went to the bullpen and senior [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag]. May had struggled from the circle, but was flawless in her 1 2/3 innings of work. May recorded three strikeouts to help preserve the victory and give the Sooners the Big 12 tournament title for the second year in a row.

It was Maxwell’s second Big 12 tournament title in the last three years after beating the Sooners as a pitcher for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in 2021. In this one, against arguably the hottest team in the country, Maxwell was lights out.

With the win, Maxwell moved to 17-2 on the season. Ella Parker continued her incredible tournament with another two-hit game. Parker was named most outstanding player for the tournament. She was 7-for-9 in Oklahoma’s three games with a home run, two doubles, five RBIs and six runs scored.

It’s the Sooners’ ninth Big 12 tournament title since the formation of the conference. Now, they head into the NCAA tournament on a high note. The Oklahoma Sooners will host an NCAA regional next weekend, but we’ll find out who it is on selection Sunday.

After beating Texas to split the four games, the Sooners have a chance to move back into the top spot after Tennessee was bounced early in the SEC tournament by LSU and Oklahoma State lost to BYU in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament.

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Oklahoma Sooners advance to Big 12 title game with 13-2 win over BYU Cougars

Kierston Deal was magnificent and freshmen Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering led the way in Oklahoma’s 13-2 win over the BYU Cougars.

[autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag] no-hit the BYU Cougars for 4.2 innings, and the Oklahoma Sooners offense struck early and often once again to beat the Cougars 13-2 and advance to the Big 12 title game.

It was the freshmen that came through in the first. [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] got the scoring going in the bottom of the first with a solo home run. The Sooners kept the scoring going when [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] drove in [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] to put OU up 3-0 after one.

With Deal rolling, the Sooners tacked on two more runs in the third, taking advantage of a throwing error that allowed Brito to reach second. [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] drove her in with a hard single through the right side to make it 4-0. After Hansen stole second on a hit-and-run attempt, Pickering picked up her third RBI of the game on a single through the right side, and Oklahoma extended their lead to 5-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Sooners put together a hit parade. [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] walked, and [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] reached on a bunt single. Parker drove in Hodge to make it 6-0. Jennings walked to load the bases for Brito, who came through with a two-run single. Hansen earned her second hit of the day to drive in Jennings and make it 9-0. Pinch hitting for Pickering, Hannah Coor singled up the middle to bring in Brito and make the score 10-0.

With one out in the inning, [autotag]Maya Bland[/autotag] walked and Hodge drove in a pinch running Riley Ludlam on a sacrifice fly. With two outs in the inning, Coleman reached again on another BYU error, which scored another Sooners run and Parker picked up her third hit of the day on a rocket to left center field.

Freshmen Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering combined to go 5-for-6 with six RBIs. Alyssa Brito also had a three-hit game with a pair of RBIs.

Deal’s no-hit bid was ended in the top of the fifth after ESPN made an extended point to show that there were no hits on the scoreboard. The no-hitter was broken up on a bloop single to right field and the shutout came to an end on a two-run home run from Hailey Morrow. But it was a fantastic performance from Deal, who held the Big 12’s third-best scoring offense hitless for 4.2 innings. It was another tremendous start from the sophomore over the last couple of months.

Now, the Sooners await the winner of the other semifinal between the Texas Longhorns and the Baylor Bears.

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Best photos from Oklahoma’s 10-1 win over the Kansas Jayhawks

Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 10-1 run-rule win over the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12 tournament.

The Oklahoma Sooners looked free, relaxed, and to be having fun in their 10-1 win over the Kansas Jayhawks. Half of their 10 hits were of the extra base variety. OU jumped on KU with five runs in the first inning before adding five more in the second and third to run away with their quarterfinal win in the Big 12 tournament.

It was a continuation of their 8-2 win in the finale against Oklahoma State last weekend. They were aggressive in the count and on the basepaths putting pressure on Kansas in a variety of ways.

“It’s fun to coach that way,” Patty Gasso said after the game. “It’s kind of hard at times. They’re such good hitters you don’t want to take the bat out of their hands, but they’re also very good with contact. They can hit bad pitches or not great pitches hard. I think we really wanted to make whoever we’re playing feel that way right from the start.”

Ella Parker and Alyssa Brito scored on close plays at the plate that only happened because of their aggressiveness.

[autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag], [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], and [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag], the top four hitters in the order, combined to go 6-for-7 with three extra base hits, three walks, eight runs scored, and seven RBIs. Rylie Boone helped set the table from her No. 9 spot with a two-hit day of her own.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] worked around a rough first inning to allow just one run but settled in to allow only one base runner in the next two innings. Peytn Monticelli allowed only a hit batter in her two innings of work.

Now, the Sooners continue in the Big 12 tournament with a 5 p.m. CT date against the BYU Cougars, who knocked off the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

‘It’s going to be bittersweet’: Oklahoma Sooners’ seniors ready for final road trip

Heading to Orlando to take on the Knights, Oklahoma’s senior class goes on the road for the final time.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ senior class is one of the best senior classes in the history of softball. Most have been a part of the three straight national champions or at least a part of some of the national titles during this stretch.

Those seniors include [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag], [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag], [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag], [autotag]Riley Ludlam[/autotag], [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] and [autotag]Karlie Keeney[/autotag]. This weekend they head on the road for what might be the final time in their career.

After this weekend in Orlando vs. UCF, the Sooners will close out the regular season in Norman against Oklahoma State. Then it’s onto the postseason where OU won’t have to leave Central Oklahoma.

With the final road trip coming, what is Alynah Torres thinking ahead of their series with UCF.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Torres said. “I think it’s going to be bittersweet. It’s going to be a long flight so it’s going to be really cool just sitting there and thinking about it and just having a good time. I think road trips are always fun because that’s when you get closest with your teammates.”

Torres went on to mention she’s excited for this trip in particular because it’ll be the Sooners’ first time to head to UCF as members of the Big 12. What better way to go out than for a series sweep against a conference foe before the start of postseason play in a few weeks?

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‘When they don’t get caught up in outcomes’: Patty Gasso on what calms her team

This senior group has been special for the Sooners but even they have their down times and need something to get them going each year.

The Oklahoma Sooners have 10 seniors on this year’s roster. Five of them have been a part of all three of their national championships.

That would be [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] and [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag]. [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] has been a part of two of them, [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] has been a part of one. The other three, [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag], [autotag]Riley Ludlam[/autotag] and [autotag]Karlie Keeney[/autotag] are new to the team this year.

This season may not have gone like people expected, but the Sooners are still in a strong position to contend for the national title. Despite four losses, the sky certainly isn’t falling.

Patty Gasso shared that sometimes her team gets caught up in the outside noise but there is one thing that gets her seniors going. “When they get lost in the game,” Gasso said. “When they don’t get caught up in outcomes. You’ve seen some really uncharacteristic teams where we’re just getting really mad at ourselves. You might see the slamming of the bat. Something that’s really frustrating them. We try too hard. That is not our game. It just comes super natural because they are that elite of athletes.”

You can tell at times the pressure of winning a fourth title in a row is starting to weigh on them, especially, with all of the outside noise as well. But when they are playing their game, I still think they are the best team in the country regardless of what the standings say.

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‘We’re going to fix that’: Patty Gasso on the Sooners leaving too many runners on base

The Oklahoma Sooners are having another really good offensive season, but can improve when they get runners on base.

The Oklahoma Sooners softball team lost another game this weekend giving them four losses on the season. They still won the series over the [autotag]BYU Cougars[/autotag].

But throughout the series, the Sooners’ batters looked off balance, thanks to a really solid performance by the Cougars’ pitching staff. Still, Oklahoma did what they’ve done almost every time they’ve had a letdown: respond.

This team’s issue recently is hitting with runners on. We are not used to seeing this from Oklahoma, but it’s a concern. There have been a number of occasions when a runner runs themselves into an out or gets doubled up on a line drive. Oklahoma just hasn’t been as sound on the base paths or at the plate when they have opportunities to cash in.

Patty Gasso talked about that after Saturday’s win. “We’re getting on but we left 11 runners on base and that’s just too much for this team,” Gasso said. “But we’re getting on base so we can be encouraged by that and we’re going to fix that. I’m certain of that.”

If the Sooners are able to fix that, they probably will win their fourth straight national championship. They’ve been great in 2024 yet again and still, there’s room for improvement, especially with runners on base.

Now, Friday the pitching and defense weren’t great, but it’s been pretty good all year. It’s the hitting that has cost them more than the pitching. They need to find a way pick up if the Sooners want to win the NCAA overall No. 1 seed and win another national title.

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Texas Longhorns shut down Oklahoma Sooners’ high-powered offense

Oklahoma’s offense was held in check in their first conference series loss in over a decade.

The Oklahoma Sooners were unable to leave Austin, TX with a series win over the Texas Longhorns. It was the first time the Sooners dropped a series to their Red River Rivals since 2009. OU took Game 1 but scored two total runs in the next two games, losing both 2-1.

It was shocking to see the nation’s top offense held in check like that. They entered the series averaging nearly 11 runs per game in conference play but mustered just two runs per game against Texas. The Longhorns deserve a lot of credit for how they played, but still, we aren’t used to seeing that from an Oklahoma team.

Alyssa Brito discussed the offensive struggles after the game. “I think that we didn’t adjust when we knew they were making adjustments themselves,” Brito said. “They did a really great job of constantly changing up their plans, and I think that we knew we were better than what we showed and how we responded. But I also just think we need to stay within ourselves. I’m not too worried about it, honestly.”

There isn’t much cause for concern right now with the Sooners and their offense. Coming into the season, the question marks were around the pitching and not the hitting. But the pitching was outstanding against a very good Texas offense.

That’s a positive you can take away. I think the hitting has been so good for so long that they get the benefit of the doubt moving forward.

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Texas Longhorns beat Oklahoma Sooners 2-1 on controversial call

Oklahoma lost their second game of the season as this one comes after a controversial late call.

The Oklahoma Sooners took on the Texas Longhorns in Game 2 of their three-game series on Saturday.

[autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] singled to start the game but was forced out on a ground ball by [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag]. [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] doubled off the wall to put runners at second and third. [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] drove home Brito to give the Sooners a 1-0 lead in the first.

[autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] started in the circle for the Sooners. She walked one but was otherwise clean in the bottom of the first inning.

Texas threatened in the second inning, putting a runner on second. Oklahoma’s [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] made a great catch in the outfield to keep the Longhorns scoreless.

Texas took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Texas ran itself out of a bigger inning when a runner left base early and was called out on a pitch that was hit off the wall.

The Sooners had an opportunity in the seventh. Texas outfielder Kayden Henry made a fantastic catch on an Alynah Torres liner for the first out. Cydney Sanders grounded out to third for the second out, but Kinzie Hanse gave the Sooners hope with a single.

With two outs, Boone launched a ball over Henry.

Maya Bland, running for Hansen, received the green light from Patty Gasso to try to score, but she was tagged out at the plate. Initially, it looked as if Reese Atwood obstructed her path to the plate. Upon review, it was determined the errant throw created the obstructed path. As a result, the call stood. Bland was out, and Texas won 2-1.

May threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six.

Game 3 of the series takes place Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and the Longhorn Network.

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Oklahoma Sooners’ early count aggressiveness key in win

Oklahoma were ultra aggressive earlier in the count than they have at most points during the season and that proved big in their win.

The Oklahoma Sooners had a big challenge when heading into this weekend’s series vs. their Red River rival. Not only do the Texas Longhorns have one of the best offenses in the country, they’ve got a really good pitching staff as well.

The Sooners countered that by being aggressive early and often. That’s not something we’ve seen a whole lot from Oklahoma this year. There are times they are aggressive but I feel like mostly they are really patient hitters.

This game seemed to be different. They had their moments of patience but overall were more aggressive and it paid off.

Jayda Coleman talked about the mindset going into the game. “It was to be aggressive,” Coleman said. “Hit a pitch that we liked to hit. Their pitchers are really good. They paint both sides of the plate. Just getting the pitch that you want and not falling into any traps. I think we did a really good job at doing that today.”

Coleman had another huge day at the plate. She had two hits on four at-bats but drove in four of the five runs, including a three-run home run. She continues her hot streak at the plate which has been big for Oklahoma’s offense

She has four home runs in the Sooners last four games after three a week ago against Kansas. As the Sooners get ready for game two against Texas, they’ll need more of that from their start centerfielder.

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