Tag: Oklahoma softball

Oklahoma Sooners reclaim top spot of D1 Softball top 25

The Oklahoma Sooners are back on top of D1 Softball’s rankings after a brief stint at No. 2

The Oklahoma Sooners clearly took umbrage with being dropped to No. 2 for the first time in 29 polls in last week’s rankings. They proceeded to take out their frustrations on No. 1 UCLA. After Sunday’s statement win over the Bruins, the Sooners are 13-1 and back on top of this week’s D1Softball rankings.

OU went 5-0 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with four run-rule victories. Along with UCLA, the Sooners run-ruled Cal State Fullerton, Texas A&M, and Loyola Marymount. The tournament was held in Cathedral City, California, a two-hour drive from Los Angeles.

The Pac-12’s UCLA was bumped down to No. 2 in this week’s rankings, with Oklahoma State at No. 3. Baylor and Texas are the only other representatives from the Big 12 at No. 10 and No. 15.

The Sooners return home to Marita Hynes field for the OU Tournament with two games against both Illinois-Chicago and Kentucky. Kentucky comes to Norman ranked No. 14 in the nation.

At the beginning of the season, there were some outside concerns that the OU bats weren’t quite awake yet. After this weekend’s events, it’s safe to say that the Sooners are looking just as imposing as ever.

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‘There’s really no offensive weakness’: Patty Gasso talks 2023 season, attending OU Hockey game

During Oklahoma Softball’s visit to an OU Hockey game, Patty Gasso talked about her team, her career and her to-be ballpark

The crowd at Friday night’s OU Hockey game had a bit more star power than usual. Oklahoma Softball was in the building for the Sooners’ tilt against the Missouri State Ice Bears.

The back-to-back defending champions were invited onto the ice for the pregame ceremonial puck drop. Head coach Patty Gasso did the honors.

After the first period, Gasso gave an interview with the OU Hockey broadcast. She was candid when asked how her squad ended up at a hockey game that night.

“We need to get off the softball field and see what other athletes look like in action,” said Gasso. “I enjoy and (the players) enjoy seeing other athletic events and seeing athletes go through the same kind of intensity, pressure and push.”

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After winning back-to-back national championships, the Sooners are looking just as potent and dangerous as ever, but Gasso still has her sights set on the upcoming season.

“We focus on the process,” Gasso said. “We focus on the journey. We don’t talk about the word ‘three-peat.’ It’s just staying day to day and focusing on the moment… It’s a really good group that understands that, but they also want to make history.”

Superstar Jocelyn Alo has moved on from the Sooners, yet Oklahoma is looking as potent and dangerous as ever. While Alo will be missed, Gasso feels confident in the players she brought in during the offseason.

“There’s no one on earth that can swing it like Jocelyn Alo,” Gasso continued. “So, what we did instead was get three or four to replace Jocelyn Alo. You look at our lineup and there’s really no offensive weakness. One through nine can hit it out of the park and change the game at any time. It’s a very good team with very good pitching and very good defense.”

OU Softball will be moving into what will be known as Love’s Field for the 2024 season. The new ballpark’s construction is something of a crowning achievment for Gasso’s career.

“I think it (a new ballpark) has been the missing piece to this phenomenal puzzle for a long time… (The ballpark) is going to be absolutely beautiful and well-deserved for this team,” Gasso shared.

While Gasso has accomplished so much in her career, she considers this new ballpark the “icing on the cake” of her career.

“I’ve got nothing else to win or prove,” she continued. “I want to help some of these players reach their goals and dreams. It’s my passion and I love it.”

OU Softball will open their season at the Mark Campbell Invitational against No. 16 Duke on Thursday, Feb. 9.

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Jocelyn Alo named Sports Illustrated 2022 Athlete of the Year

Oklahoma Softball’s very own Jocelyn Alo has been named Sports Illustrated’s Athlete of the Year. From @bendackiw

The Oklahoma Sooners legend Jocelyn Alo is going to need to make some room in her trophy case. The former OU slugger was named Sports Illustrated’s 2022 Athlete of the Year alongside Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

Some other big names accompanied Alo on the big stage. Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry won Sportsperson of the year, while Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson won Inspiration of the Year.

The “Queen” of Oklahoma Softball not only won a national championship this year, but she also set a few records along the way. No college softball or baseball player has more career home runs than Alo’s 122. She gave a humble and heartfelt speech as she accepted the award.

When listing the greatest OU athletes of all time, it’s not a matter of if Alo is up there; it’s where to put her. Her career numbers look like someone was playing MLB The Show on beginner.

She had a career slugging percentage of .987, 323 RBIs, and a .557 on-base percentage. That is nothing short of complete dominance.

Since leaving OU, Alo signed with the OKC Spark of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch League for the 2023 season. Oklahoma fans will be able to see Alo again this coming June.

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PREDICTIONS: No. 18 Texas vs No. 4 TCU and Saturday’s biggest games

Crowd noise and road atmosphere could determine whether or not Texas wins or loses.

Week 11 is underway, and the Texas Longhorns figure to be in the game of the week. No. 18 Texas will host the No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday evening.

TCU enters the game 9-0 and in position to play in its first College Football Playoff. The Horned Frogs have been dominant since the start of the season, in large part due to great coaching.

Sonny Dykes’ coaching staff is winning in multiple areas. For starters, their strength and conditioning program appears to be among the best in the nation. Play-calling and game planning have given TCU a noticeable edge over its opposition.

Adding to the degree of difficulty, the Horned Frogs have recruited and developed well in recent seasons. Quentin Johnston, Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Kendre Miller, Max Duggan and Jordan Hudson come to mind.

Texas will have its hands full on Saturday. Here’s how Week 11 could play out this weekend for the top featured games.

Oklahoma Sooners gear officially licensed by Texas softball players from breakingT

Get your Oklahoma Sooners softball gear as they look for their sixth national championship title in the NCAA Women’s College World Series.

The No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners are coming off a 16-1 victory over the Texas Longhorns in Game 1 of the NCAA Women’s College World Series. The Sooners will be looking to close out the series on Thursday night and win the national championship for the sixth time.

What better way to support your squad in this series and throughout the year than with these brand new officially licensed shirts and hoodies from both the softball players.

You can click on any photo below to purchase or check out the whole Oklahoma collection here before they sell out.

Oklahoma Softball: Tiare Jennings, Tia Time shirts, and hoodies are available now in adult and youth sizes from small to 3X.

 

Oklahoma Softball: Jocelyn Alo, Sooner Shaka shirts and hoodies are available now in adult and youth sizes from small to 3X.

Oklahoma Softball: Super Smash Sooners shirts and hoodies are available now in adult and youth sizes from small to 3X.

Oklahoma Softball: Jocelyn Alo Home Run Queen shirts and hoodies are available now in adult and youth sizes from small to 3X.

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How to watch Texas vs. No. 1 Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series finals

Texas’ historic postseason run continues on Wednesday!

Texas’s historic postseason run continues. Continue reading “How to watch Texas vs. No. 1 Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series finals”

LOOK: Best photos from Texas softball’s miraculous comeback win over Oklahoma State

Texas is the FIRST unranked team in history to reach the Women’s College World Series finals!

Texas is the first unranked team in history to reach the Women’s College World Series finals. Continue reading “LOOK: Best photos from Texas softball’s miraculous comeback win over Oklahoma State”

Sooners fall to No. 5 UCLA, winner take all set to advance to championship

Despite a phenomenal relief outing from Jordy Bahl, the Sooners lost their first game of the NCAA Tournament and will need one more game to clinch a spot in the final

The Sooners find themselves one loss away from elimination after a 7-3 loss to the No. 5 UCLA Bruins in the semifinal. The Sooners and Bruins will play a second game later this afternoon and the winner will move on to the final.

Nicole May’s perfect record is no more. May gave up two home runs and walked three before being pulled with one out in the third inning. Jordy Bahl came in for relief and finished the game.

In her first extended action since being sat down, Bahl looked very good. The only runs scored on Bahl came on a two-run home run by Maya Brady. That last name sounds familiar somehow.

The Sooners trailed UCLA for the entirety of game one. They did respond to UCLA’s big first inning, however. Jayda Coleman got OU on the board to help keep the Sooners in the game and Grace Lyons hit another home run in the fourth to bring the Sooners within two.

It wasn’t enough, however, and the Sooners will now have to play another game later today to try to continue this fantastic season.

The biggest positive here is that Jordy Bahl appears to be back to her usual self. If OU can beat UCLA in game two, she should absolutely start in the final series.

No need to panic, Sooners fans. The Sooners are up big in the early going in the winner-take-all matchup with UCLA.

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No. 1 Oklahoma tops Texas 7-2 in the WCWS

No. 1 Oklahoma proves too much for Texas at the Women’s College World Series.

The No. 1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners proved too much for Texas softball in the Women’s College World Series. The Sooners are in the driver’s seat to advance to the championship series while the Longhorns move into the loser’s bracket.

Oklahoma’s offense got going early with a big fly from superstar Jocelyn Alo put the Sooners on top 2-0 in the first inning. Texas responded in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double from Alyssa Washington to cut the deficit in half.

Both pitchers settled into the game nicely from that point on, exchanging zeros until Oklahoma broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning. Tiare Jennings capped of the inning with a two-run bomb over the left-field wall.

Janae Jefferson would go yard in the seventh but it would not be enough as Texas fell 7-2. The Horns will take on Arizona tomorrow in an elimination game.

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How to watch Texas softball vs. No. 1 Oklahoma in the WCWS on Saturday

Texas softball is playing with a chip on their shoulder, don’t miss their second game of the WCWS!

Texas kicked off the 2022 Women’s College World Series on the right foot. Continue reading “How to watch Texas softball vs. No. 1 Oklahoma in the WCWS on Saturday”