Tag: Washington Softball

No. 1 Oklahoma run-rules No. 16 Washington 9-1 to return to Women’s College World Series

No. 1 Oklahoma softball run-ruled No. 16 Washington 9-1 on Saturday to once again return to the Women’s College World Series.

No. 1 Oklahoma softball returned to Marita Hynes Field on Saturday for the second game of their best-of-three Super Regional bout with No. 16 Washington after the Sooners took Game 1 on Friday. A win meant Patty Gasso’s squad would be once again returning to the Women’s College World Series.

Getting the start for Oklahoma was senior Shannon Saile (17-0) who was tremendous working five shutout innings allowing only four hits. Between her performance on Saturday and Nicole May’s on Friday, Sooners pitching had a fantastic weekend.

The Sooners would get the scoring started early with second baseman Tiare Jennings ripping a leadoff double to open the game and then later coming across the plate on a wild pitch. Oklahoma held a 1-0 lead after the opening frame.

After center fielder Jayda Coleman drew a bases loaded walk to score a run in the second, third baseman Jana Johns would come through with one of the big swings of the day in the top of the third. With a runner on second base, Johns pounded a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run to make the lead 4-0.

The Huskies would get on the board in the bottom of the third off of Saile to cut into the deficit slightly at 4-1, but the Sooners bats would quickly get that run back and then some in the following inning on a pair of home runs.

First came designated player Jocelyn Alo, who hit a two-run laser to right field for her 30th home run of the season.

Two batters later, catcher Kinzie Hansen connected with a solo home run also to right field. Suddenly, Oklahoma was cruising to the tune of a 7-1 lead.

After holding Washington scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the Sooners would move the game into run-rule territory in the fifth scoring two runs on RBI hits from the pinch-hitting Lynnsie Elam and Alo. Saile would then get the final three outs for the 9-1 run-rule win.

The win moves Oklahoma to 50-2 on the season and punches their ticket back to the WCWS for a fifth consecutive season. This entire year has been a master class in coaching by Gasso and this weekend was no different with the Sooners mostly cruising to two wins over a really good Washington team.

The lone question mark with this juggernaut Oklahoma team has been if they have enough pitching, but in both the Regionals and Super Regionals the Sooners dominated in the circle. They have to be playing with immense confidence going into next week’s bid for a national title.

Oklahoma will now await the winner of the Super Regional bout between No. 9 Missouri and James Madison in the first round of the Women’s College World Series that begins on Thursday in Oklahoma City.

No. 1 Oklahoma opens up Super Regionals with 4-2 win over No. 16 Washington

No. 1 Oklahoma softball held on late to knock off No. 16 Washington 4-2 in the first game of the Super Regionals on Friday afternoon.

No. 1 Oklahoma softball began Super Regional action on Friday afternoon hosting No. 16 Washington at Marita Hynes Field in the first game of their best-of-three weekend set.

While not an elimination game, the first game of the weekend is still understandably massively important to give yourself two cracks at clinching as opposed to needing two straight wins – so the pressure was on for this collision of elite teams.

In a somewhat surprising move, head coach Patty Gasso went to freshman pitcher Nicole May (14-1) to start the game in the circle as opposed to one of the big seniors in Giselle Juarez or Shannon Saile. May has been the best of the bunch in the latter part of the season, so the move seemed warranted and May delivered in a huge way with a complete game performance only allowing two runs to cross.

The Sooners would get the scoring started in the opening frame with second baseman Tiare Jennings leading off the inning with a double and then coming in to score after three Oklahoma batters were hit by pitches. Gasso’s squad held an early 1-0 advantage after the first.

The Huskies would get that run right back in the second inning on a solo home run by left fielder Sami Reynolds over the batters eye in center field. May would respond by retiring the next three batters, a key spot where some other young players may feel the heat of the moment.

The Sooners would then hop back in front in the bottom of the third on a laser home run off the bat of designated player Jocelyn Alo – her 29th of the season. Oklahoma held a 2-1 lead at the end of three innings.

The score would remain there into the fifth inning when catcher Kinzie Hansen would come through with one of the more wild plays you’ll ever see in softball. With one out and a runner on second base, Hansen singled up the middle to score the runner. The ball then got away from Washington center fielder Jadelyn Allchin which allowed Hansen to come allย the way around to score. It doesn’t go in the book as an inside-the-park home run, but that is about as close as you’ll ever get.

May would go on to get the final six outs, albeit with allowing a solo home run in the seventh inning, for the complete game victory to give Oklahoma the 4-2 win and a 1-0 series lead with the chance to punch their ticket to the Women’s College World Series on Saturday.

May is undoubtedly the star of the game keeping the Huskies off balance all afternoon long and then weathering the storm late when things got hairy. The offense did there part as well doing enough at the plate putting four runs on the board and providing some needed late cushion. This was an overall very sound performance by the Sooners in a game that always felt like it was in their control despite it being close on the scoreboard.

Oklahoma can now move on to the WCWS on Saturday with a win in Game 2, which is set for 2:00 p.m. CT back at Marita Hynes Field.

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When, where, how to watch Oklahoma take on Washington in NCAA Super Regional

Everything you need to know for No. 1 Oklahoma softball’s Super Regional matchup with No. 16 Washington beginning on Friday afternoon.

No. 1 Oklahoma (48-2) makes their return to Marita Hynes Field this weekend for the Norman Super Regional against No. 16 Washington (45-12) in a best-of-three series with a spot in the Women’s College World Series on the line.

The Sooners were granted the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament after an incredible regular season that saw them put up record-setting offensive numbers all year long. They lived up to that ranking in the Norman Regional a week ago going 3-0 in the round capped off with a 24-7 beat down of Wichita State in the regional final.

Despite that, head coach Patty Gasso has said openly on multiple occasions now that she was unsure why Oklahoma had been given the top seed given their lighter strength of schedule compared to some other top teams – specifically those from the Pac-12.

That segues perfectly to the No. 16 Huskies who were widely viewed as theย single most obviously under-seeded team in the entire bracket. They made waves during the selection show by walking out of the room when their draw was revealed, not even staying to see who the remaining teams in their regional were.

Someone who agreed with their disdain was in fact Gasso, who said she supported their form of silent protest and went into further detail about her lack of understanding at what the criteria is for the seeding and pleading for there to be more transparency in the process as a whole.

Simply put, in many people’s minds this a matchup of perhaps an even higher quality than the Super Regionals. These are elite teams that will be clashing in Norman this weekend, as evidenced by the second game of the series being the first everย collegiate softball game to be broadcast on ABC.

Oklahoma is looking to clinch their 14th all-time berth in the WCWS and their fifth straight with two wins this weekend over Washington. Tickets for the series are completely sold out for this star-studded matchup of title contenders.

This series will mark the 27th, 28th and (potentially) 29th all-time meetings between the Sooners and the Huskies with Washington holding the slight historical edge 14-12. The two teams have met four of the last five seasons, including three collisions in the WCWS. The Huskies are coached by Heather Tarr in her 17th year with the program.

For this powerhouse Super Regional matchup, here is everything you need to know:

Game 1 – Friday

WHEN:ย  ย 2:00 p.m. CT

WHERE:ย  ย Norman, Oklahoma (Marita Hynes Field)

HOW TO WATCH:ย  ย ESPN2

HOW TO LISTEN:ย  ย Sooner Sports Radio Network – The Franchise 2 103.3 FM/1560 AM; Tune In Radio App (Chris Plank & Destinee Martinez)

Game 2 – Saturday

WHEN:ย  ย 2:00 p.m. CT

WHERE:ย  ย Norman, Oklahoma (Marita Hynes Field)

HOW TO WATCH:ย  ย ABC

HOW TO LISTEN:ย  ย Sooner Sports Radio Network – KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App (Chris Plank & Destinee Martinez)

Game 3 – Sunday (If Necessary)

WHEN:ย  ย 3:00 p.m. CT

WHERE:ย  ย Norman, Oklahoma (Marita Hynes Field)

HOW TO WATCH:ย  ย ESPN

HOW TO LISTEN:ย  ย Sooner Sports Radio Network – KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App (Chris Plank & Destinee Martinez)

Oklahoma softball drops to No. 6 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Oklahoma softball dropped one spot to No. 6 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll after losing their fourth game of the year over the weekend.ย 

Oklahoma softball dropped one spot to No. 6 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll after losing their fourth game of the year over the weekend.ย 

The Sooners won the Courtyard Marriott Tournament over the weekend, finishing 4-1 with wins over Northwestern, Abilene Christian and North Texas.ย 

Oklahoma (15-4) is continuing to persevere through youth and injury, but lost Saturdayโ€™s early matchup against North Texas 4-3. The loss allowed Arizona (17-3) , who was previously No. 7, to vault over the Sooners to No. 4. Fifth-ranked LSU dropped one spot. Defending champions UCLA hold the top spot, followed by Washington, who beat Oklahoma 12-2 in late February.

Head coach Patty Gasso will be the first to tell you the Sooners arenโ€™t playing their best ball, but there are positives, starting with the fact Oklahoma has already bested the team that jumped them: Arizona.ย 

When asked when her team should be hitting their stride, Patty Gasso said it would take some time. “I think normally by the time we start Big 12 play.. Sometimes we’re not even ready by then. But as long we get there I’m okay.” she said.

In mid-February, Oklahoma sealed a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Wildcats by scoring two runs in the top of the 10th inning. The Soonersโ€™ rotation of Macy McAdoo, Olivia Rains and Shannon Saile combined for only three strikeouts.

Oklahoma isnโ€™t where they want to be, but thereโ€™s plenty of room for improvement.ย 

The Soonersโ€™ next matchup is Wednesday, March 4 against Wichita State at 6 p.m. in Norman.

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Three takeaways from Oklahoma softball practice ahead of first home-stand of the season

Oklahoma softball had an up-and-down weekend. Here are three takeaways from their practice following their back-to-back losses.

Oklahoma softball had an up-and-down weekend, starting off with three-straight wins before dropping their final two games to No. 2 Washington and unranked Wisconsin.

The Sooners fell to No. 5 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, and understand have some work ahead of them to reach the level head coach Patty Gasso expects of them. Here are three takeaways from their practice following their back-to-back losses.

Motivational Videos

Motivational videos were referenced more than once at Oklahoma’s practice on Tuesday, starting with Kinzie Hansen. “We watched a video about this woman who climbed to the top of Mt. Everest,” Hansen said. “It was a lot about being a selfless teammate and having to adjust and readjust,”

Coach Gasso echoed Hansen’s sentiment, saying the video was similar to the Sooner’s situation. “The message is, each weekend that we play it’s like climbing a mountain,” she said. “and when you climb Mt. Everest you climb a little way and then come back to base camp. Then you recover, you recuperate, then you go to the next level. It’s really relevant to what we’re doing right now. We’re back at base camp trying to recover and be better,”

Home Sweet Home

The Sooners have spent 14 games on the road, and are understandably ready to play in front of their home crowd. “I feel like it’s gonna be really cool,” said junior Taylon Snow, who transferred to Oklahoma from Auburn in the offseason. “Finally getting to feel what the Sooner family is really about for all of us newcomers, I think it’s gonna be great.”

Letting It Go

Back-to-back losses weren’t an ideal way to finish the weekend for Gasso and her Sooners, but with 25 years of coaching experience under her belt, she knew exactly what to tell her team. “It’s just understanding that losses are not the end all be all,” she said. “That no matter what we’re not gonna surrender and I felt like we did.”

Jocelyn Alo, who’s been thrust into a leadership role in her junior season, had plenty of advice for the newcomers on the team.ย “Just to let it go,” she said when asked what advice she’s giving the freshman. “There’s always gonna be another game, there’s always gonna be another pitch. There’s always gonna be a new day and there’s always room to improve.”

Oklahoma’s home-opener against Northwestern at Marita Hynes Field is on Friday at 3 p.m.

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Oklahoma softball falls to No. 5 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

After suffering back-to-back losses in last weekend’s Mary Nutter Classic, Oklahoma fell two spots to No. 5 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

After suffering back-to-back losses in last weekend’s Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Oklahoma fell two spots to No. 5 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

The Sooners began their weekend with three-straight wins, but dropped their final two games to No. 2 Washington and unranked Wisconsin.

On Saturday, the second-ranked Huskies got all over Oklahoma early, scoring six runs off three home runs in the first two innings to take an insurmountable lead.

Two runs in the fifth inning would be all the Sooners could muster on a lackluster offensive day.ย Only Kinzie Hansen, Taylon Snow, Jocelyn Alo and Alycia Flores finished with hits.

On Sunday, the Badgers scored early and often against Oklahoma as well, scoring four runs in second inning that the Sooners wouldn’t overcome. Their best effort came in the form of a three-run third inning highlighted by back-to-back hits from Alo and Hansen. It wouldn’t be enough as Oklahoma fell to 11-3 and Shannon Saile took her second loss of the year in the circle.

After 14 games on the road, the Sooners open their five-game home stand, the Courtyard Marriott Tournament, with Northwestern on Friday at 3 p.m.

Oklahoma finishes 3-2 in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Oklahoma softball finished 3-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic over the weekend to improve to X-X on the season.

Oklahoma softball finished 3-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic over the weekend to improve to 11-3 on the season.

The Sooners earned wins over Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Seattle University, but dropped a top-five matchup against second-ranked Washington and unranked Wisconsin.

Head coach Patty Gasso and her squad opened the weekend up with a run-rule victory over Nebraska, defeating the Cornhuskers in five innings.

In their second game on Friday, Oklahoma walked it off against the Aggies. In the bottom of the seventh inning Graceย Green walked and stole second before Grace Lyons doubled to center to score Green for the 2-1 win.

Early Saturday, the Sooners beat Seattle 2-1, as Lyons and Jocelyn Alo both homered to score Oklahoma’s only two runs of the game.

No. 2 Washington jumped all over Oklahoma early, hitting three home runs in the first two innings to jump out to a 7-0 lead. The Sooners strung together four hits in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t get back in the game, dropping the contest 12-2.

On Sunday, the Soonersย lost to Wisconsin 4-3. The Badgers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and the Sooners couldn’t complete the comeback.

Brooke Vestal, Giselle Juarez, and Saile earned wins in the circle in the first three games. Juarez suffered her first loss of the season against Washington, and Saile took the loss on Sunday.

Oklahoma is back in action on Friday, Feb. 28 as they host Northwestern for their home-opener.

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Oklahoma softball falls to second-ranked Washington 12-2

Oklahoma softball lost their second game of the year on Saturday to No. 2 Washington 12-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Oklahoma softball lost their second game of the year on Saturday to No. 2 Washington 12-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

The Huskies were all over the third-ranked Sooners from the get-go, jumping out to 7-0 lead before Oklahoma could answer back. They scored two runs in the first inning and poured on four more in the second.

Washington was one run away from a run-rule before the Sooners scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Taylon Snow singled to scored Alycia Flores. Freshman Kinzie Hansen would then single to score Snow.

Only four Sooners finished with hits against Washington’s starting pitcher Kelley Lynch. Huskies’ reliever Gabbie Plain didn’t allow a hit in two innings of work.

The Huskies scored four more runs in the last inning.

After run-ruling Nebraska early Friday, the Sooners beat Texas A&M and Seattle University by just one point each. Both contests finished 2-1 in favor of Oklahoma.

The Sooners, now 11-2, will finish off the Mary Nutter Classic with a Sunday matchup against Wisconsin at 11 a.m.

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When, where, how to watch Oklahoma softball at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

When, where, and how to watch the Sooners participate in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic this weekend.

Oklahoma softball is continuing its historic ways with an 8-1 start to the 2020 season.

The Sooners, who have dominated the sport for the better part of the past decade, have already earned a top-five win this season, and now travel to California to participate in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

After losing their first game of the season last Saturday to Long Beach State, Oklahoma bounced-back later than night to beat No. 4 Arizona in extra innings.

The Sooners have traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Tuscon, Arizona, for their 2020 slate thus far. Head coach Patty Gasso and her Sooners won’t see Norman until Feb. 28โ€”when they take on Northwestern for their home-opener.

The entirety of the Mary Nutter Classic will be streamed on the subscription service FloSoftball, including Oklahoma’s matchup against second-ranked Washington on Saturday.

Here is everything you need to know about Oklahoma’s weekend out in California.

WHERE: Palm Springs, California

WHEN:

Fridayโ€”12:30 p.m. CT against Nebraska and 3 p.m. CT against Texas A&M

Saturdayโ€”12 p.m. CT against Seattle and 2:30 p.m. CT against No. 2 Washington

Sundayโ€”11 a.m. CT against Wisconsin

HOW TO STREAM: FloSoftball

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Oklahoma softball drops to No. 3 in USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Oklahoma softball (8-1) dropped one spot to No. 3 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

After suffering their first loss of the season to unranked Long Beach State last weekend, Oklahoma softball (8-1) dropped one spot to No. 3 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

No. 2 Washington suffered their first loss of the season over the weekend as well, losing to Alabama in a five-inning run-rule. Undefeated UCLA, the defending champions, jumped both Washington and Oklahoma to grab the No. 1 spot. The Sooners and Huskies meet up on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

The Sooners salvaged what could have been a crippling loss to Long Beach State by turning around and beating then-No. 4 Arizona in extra-innings. The Wildcats fell one spot to No. 5.

Undefeated Texas follows Oklahoma at No. 4, three-loss Oklahoma State is at No. 14, and Texas Tech is the final Big 12 team to make the cut at No. 20.

The Sooners take the field next this Friday at 12:30 p.m. against Nebraska in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, CA.

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