Tag: Tiare Jennings

Patty Gasso breaks down this weekend’s games

The Sooners have five games this weekend that might be tougher than people think.

After starting the year with four games in Mexico, the Oklahoma Sooners head to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the Cowgirl Challenge. The Sooners will play five games against three teams.

On paper, this series doesn’t look that challenging. The Sooners opponents, Central Arkansas, McNeese State and Lamar, all have a combined record of 7-7 on the season.

Patty Gasso talked about her team’s upcoming challenge and why this won’t be as easy as it may seem to the outside world. “Central Arkansas was a tournament team last year,” Gasso said. “Lamar is a program on the rise. McNeese State, if you all remember, had one of the most exciting Super Regionals. They were almost in the World Series. Looking at their numbers, they have over 148 stolen bases last year which is unheard of. So, it’s going to be fast and furious. It’s going to be a lot of short game, slapping, runners in motion, our defense is going to have to be on point.”

McNeese State took Washington to the brink last season. They beat them and then had a do-or-die game vs. them to move on. They ultimately lost that game 7-6. They currently sit at 4-1 this year with three-run rules on the season.

So, while on paper it doesn’t look as difficult as last weekend’s games, the Sooners have to be ready or their streak could be in danger.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Oklahoma Sooners softball may have found their next star

It’s only been four games but Oklahoma might have found their next star in freshman Kasidi Pickering.

Don’t look now, the Oklahoma Sooners might have found their next star softball player. It’s only been four games but freshman [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] leads the team with a .455 batting average and seven RBIs.

She also has one home run which was a grand slam in her first career at-bat. Depending on where you looked, Pickering was as high as the No. 4 prospect in the country and as low as the No. 16 prospect in the country coming out of high school and was a part of the No. 2 ranked recruiting class.

Pickering spoke about the differences from high school.

“It’s still the same game I feel like since we’ve all played,” Pickering said. “But the players just take it to a whole other level. There are so many more things you have to nitpick and take control of. So, just being aware of the situation and playing to the level.”

Playing to that high level and the high standard of Oklahoma softball she did.

Even though it was just a four-game stretch, it’s not often you are going to have a better batting average than players like [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] or [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] but that’s exactly what she did.

One thing is for certain, she’s going to make it very hard on [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] to not have her in the lineup just about every game.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

How to watch, key players for No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners in the Cowgirl Challenge

The Sooners are back in action with a five game weekend slate and here is how you can watch each game.

The Oklahoma Sooners started their season undefeated, going 4-0 last week in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. They also remained the unanimous No. 1 team in the country after picking up a pair of top 10 wins.

This weekend, they have a five-game slate, including two days of double-headers. They will face Central Arkansas, McNeese State, and Lamar this weekend in Lake Charles, Lousiana.

Oklahoma’s weekend opponents have a combined record of 7-7, with McNeese State owning the best record of the bunch at 4-1. McNeese State was lost in the Seattle Regional final after eliminating Minnesota and taking game from host Washington. Central Arkansas has struggled to start the year but they were a tournament team just a season ago.

So, let’s take a look at how you can watch each game and see who are some of the key players for all five teams.

‘It was a good start’: Patty Gasso is pleased with their start but not satisfied

The Oklahoma Sooners started with a 4-0 week but Patty Gasso and crew are not satisfied.

The Oklahoma Sooners started the season 4-0 and increased their record-setting winning streak to 57 games in Puerto Vallarta. But it didn’t come without some drama.

The [autotag]Washington Huskies[/autotag] had a 3-2 lead before Riley Ludlam’s RBI single pushed the game into extra innings. Then Riley Boone came through in the clutch moment to help the Sooners get the win.

There were two controversial calls, one going for Oklahoma and one going against Oklahoma that could have ended that game in regulation. Still, the Sooners found a way to get the win.

More: 3 Stars from Oklahoma’s 4-0 weekend in Puerto Vallarta

Patty Gasso was asked about what she thought of her team’s performance this past week. “I asked the team today to rank our performance 1-10,” Gasso said. “I had a lot of fours, I had a lot of fives and I had a few sixes. We just beat two top-10 teams with that level of performance. That’s something to look at and go, ‘Hey, that’s okay.’ They were not happy but they competed and that’s what is important to me. So, it was a good start, absolutely, it was a good start.”

Gasso went on to say she felt they were at a “5+” but had a really good practice to start the new week. The great thing about softball is if you aren’t happy with your performance, you’ll have several games just around the corner to fix it.

The Sooners have five games this weekend, including a pair of double-headers in the Cowgirl Challenge in Lake Charles, Louisiana. All five games will be available on ESPN+.

More: Social media reacts to Oklahoma’s extra inning win over Washington.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Oklahoma Sooners close weekend with 11-3 win over Long Beach State

Karlie Keeney was fantastic in relief and the Oklahoma Sooners pulled away from Long Beach State late to earn the 11-3 win.

The Oklahoma Sooners finished their weekend in Puerto Vallarta with a 4-0 record and a 57-game winning streak.

As was the case on Friday night, the Sooners were tested on Saturday by Long Beach State before exploding late for the 11-3 win.

[autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] opened the scoring in the top of the first with a three-run blast to put Oklahoma ahead early.

[autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], who drew the start, allowed a leadoff single before retiring the next three hitters. The bottom of the second though, wasn’t as kind. Long Beach State tagged her for three runs on three hits and a walk. Liberty transfer [autotag]Karlie Keeney[/autotag] came in to put an end to the inning.

Keeney was magnificent, throwing 4 1/3 innings of perfect ball. Long Beach struggled to make good contact, and the Sooners defense made every play that came its way. Keeney’s outing provided the momentum Oklahoma’s bats needed to come around.

With the game tied 3-3 in the fourth, [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] rocketed a ball to deep center field. It looked like Lilyanna Martinez was there to make the play, but the ball hit off her glove and went over the fence for a home run, Sanders’ first of the season.

In the sixth, the Sooners broke it open. Brito led off with a solo home run, her second on the day and third of the season to make it 6-3. Sanders and Avery Hodge recorded infield singles, and [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] walked to load the bases with no outs. Ella Parker and [autotag]Riley Ludlam[/autotag] drew bases-loaded walks to make it 8-3 before [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] grounded into a double play to score Parker and make it 9-3. [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] capped the scoring with a two-run shot that went a long ways to make it 11-3. It was Jennings second home run of the season.

[autotag]Peytn Monticelli[/autotag] came in to pitch the seventh and recorded a scoreless relief appearance to seal OU’s win.

Brito was 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the way. Hansen was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and a walk. Sanders also had two hits.

Oklahoma’s road tour continues next weekend when it heads to Lake Charles, Louisiana, for the Cowgirl Challenge. It will take on Central Arkansas and McNeese State on Friday, Lamar and McNeese State on Saturday before closing the weekend with Central Arkansas again on Sunday.

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

Patty Gasso excited to get into Love’s Field for the first time

Oklahoma still has about a month until they get to play in their new stadium that has some things that even Patty Gasso didn’t know about.

The 2024 college softball season is an exciting one for the Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they ride a record 54-game win streak and are looking to become the first team to win four straight national championships, but they are also debuting a new stadium.

But the Sooners have to wait about a month before playing their first game in their new stadium. Oklahoma’s first 14 games are all on the road before they head home for the first time on March 1, 2024, vs. the Miami (OH) Red Hawks.

Patty Gasso was asked about her excitement level to get to play at Love’s Field for the first time. “I just got a tour of it today and I hadn’t seen it for a couple of months,” Gasso said. “I actually went with Jenny Love. She and I were enjoying it together, and there were things that I didn’t know were happening. We got down on the actual field and I’m looking up, that was Joe Castiglione’s idea to create the outline of Oklahoma and I’m like ‘Okay, that sounds kind of corny.’ But when I see it, I’m like, ‘That is awesome!’ I think it’s the coolest thing.”

Another thing Gasso didn’t know about is how they are adding more seats. She said there are going to be grandstands on top of the walkway in the outfield that will add another 500 or 600 seats. All in all, she was very impressed with her tour calling the stadium “grand.”

Now, fans have to wait just a few more days before they get to see it for themselves. But there isn’t a more deserving team in the country to play in a stadium like that.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Kelly Maxwell shines in debut, Sooners shut out No. 10 Duke Blue Devils 3-0

Kelly Maxwell threw a gem in her Oklahoma Sooners debut, throwing five shutout innings in the Sooners 3-0 win over Duke.

One of the more highly anticipated debuts for the 2024 season was that of [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag]. The Oklahoma State transfer delivered in her first start for the Oklahoma Sooners, throwing five shutout innings in Oklahoma’s 3-0 win over the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils.

Maxwell allowed a walk and a hit across those five innings to earn her first win with the Sooners. The Blue Devils opened the game with a hit from leadoff hitter D’auna Jennings, but Maxwell put the clamps on after allowing a leadoff walk in the top of the second. She was perfect over her final 12 batters.

Duke starter Cassidy Curd held the Sooners at bay for the first couple of innings, but [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] opened the scoring with a solo shot to center field to put Oklahoma up 1-0. [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] drove in [autotag]Maya Bland[/autotag]. Torres came around on an infield single by [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] and a throwing error to make it 3-0. That’s all Oklahoma’s pitching staff needed to improve to 2-0.

More: Social media reacts to Kasidi Pickering’s grand slam in her first career at bat.

Karlie Keeney relieved Maxwell in the sixth inning and retired Duke in order. The seventh inning was a little more interesting. After Keeney recorded the first out, Duke loaded the bases on a walk, single and hit by pitch.

With the go-ahead run at the plate, Keeney came through with a strikeout and groundout to earn her first save with the Sooners.

This is what the Oklahoma Sooners expected when they brought in Maxwell and Keeney via the transfer portal. They have the ability to pitch in big games and come through with big-time performances.

The Oklahoma Sooners are 2-0 and will face Washington and Long Beach State to close their time in the Puerto Vallarta College Classic. They have  won 55 in a row.

They’ll face the Washington Huskies on Friday night before taking on Long Beach State in the finale on Saturday.

More: How to watch No. 1 Oklahoma in the Puerto Vallarta College Classic

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

How to watch, key players for No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

The Oklahoma Sooners open the season in the Puerto Vallarta College Classic and here’s how you can watch the action.

The No. 1 softball team in the country is set to make its season debut. The Oklahoma Sooners start the season with a doubleheader in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge against Utah Valley and the No. 9 [autotag]Duke Blue Devils[/autotag]. They then wrap it up with games on Friday and Saturday against Washington and Long Beach State.

This is a tournament Oklahoma is familiar with. It marks its third appearance south of the border. It last participated in the 2020 event, going 4-0 and outscoring opponents, 27-9. The  Sooners competed in the 2017 tournament and went 2-2.

The Sooners ride a NCAA record 53-game winning streak into Mexico. But they’ll have their work cut out for them: They face two top-10 teams in their first three games.

The Sooners are also looking to make history and become the first softball team to win four straight national championships. So, let’s take a look at Oklahoma’s opponents and how you can watch their opening-week games.

‘We truly just find joy in the grind’: Oklahoma Sooners ‘core five’ looking to make history

The Oklahoma Sooners have five players that have been here for all three championships, now they are looking to make history.

The 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes for the Oklahoma Sooners softball team were absolutely special. Five players remain from those classes.

[autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] and [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] from the 2020 class and [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] from the 2021 class. All five have a chance to win a national championship every year they’ve been eligible for one. The end of the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

All five have played major roles on those championship teams.

Coleman was asked if she’s taken a step back to reflect on the unprecedented success they’ve had so far. “I feel like we truly just find joy in the grind,” Coleman said. “It is truly fun to grind throughout the fall and even this time so when you get in the World Series, you feel so confident. Because you know that there is no one that has worked harder than you. Just the joy that this group has and like she was saying, we live for the Lord. So, when we know that it’s already written, we can just go out there and have a blast.”

The Sooners start their season on Thursday with a doubleheader and have four games from Thursday to Saturday in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. They then will have nearly a week off before they hit the diamond again to continue their title defense.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

‘We already have a good feel together’: Alyssa Brito, Tiare Jennings at home playing left side of infield together

While Jennings move to shortstop is new at Oklahoma, it’s something she has familiarity with as well as playing next to Alyssa Brito at 3rd.

We are one day away from the start of the 2024 softball season. The Oklahoma Sooners are in Puerto Vallarta for their first set of games.

But this year’s Oklahoma team has a big position to fill in their infield. Gone is [autotag]Grace Lyons[/autotag], who was a staple and leader for the team at shortstop for the past five seasons.

There had been some speculation about who would be taking that spot. Would it possibly be [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag]? Head Coach Patty Gasso shot that down, saying she was too good at third base to move. So Gasso announced at her press conference earlier in the week it would be [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] moving to short.

Jennings had started the past three seasons at second base. Brito spoke about the change of having Jennings closer to her in the field something she’s familiar with. “I played third next to her in travel ball,” Brito said. “It’s kind of just going back to the old days. We already have a good feel together. She constantly talks to me, and we’re on the same page at all times. So it’s been really fun again to be right next to her. But defense is really fun for both of us. Just communicating a lot and just experiencing so many years of us playing together, we’ve just got it down.”

The Sooners hope that familiarity means no drop-off with the loss of Lyons as they strive for their fourth straight national title.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.