Category: Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN — With all the snow and ice melting and the Oklahoma campus bathed in an almost unfamiliar glow, softball season resumed with a flourish.

On a sun-splashed, perfectly temperate afternoon in the Norman Tournament, No. 2-ranked Oklahoma delivered a 8-0 run-rule victory over Tulsa on Saturday at Love’s Field.

“We were really, really pleased about that because it looked like we may not play this weekend,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “The crowd came out. I’m really excited about that. They were excited to see us. It felt good to be home.

OU improved to 11-0 on the season, while Tulsa fell to 5-6. Dating back to last year’s College World Series, it was the Sooners’ 14th consecutive win.

Kierston Deal got the start for the Sooners. The left-hander hurled four scoreless innings with four strikeouts and allowed two hits and one walk.

“It was great to see how many Sooner fans were in the stands,” Deal said. “Like, even with the cold, like they’re sticking with us. Like, all the way through it.”

Isabella Smith pitched the fifth inning and quickly got two strikeouts before a ground ball ended it.

Deal ended three of the first four innings with swinging strikeouts — two of those with a runner on base. She also induced a ground-ball double play after walking leadoff hitter Faith Russell to open the game.

OU left two runners on base in the first inning, then loaded the bases on three walks in the second before breaking through.

Ella Parker’s one-hop ground ball to first base hit the chalk and skidded between Paige Knight’s cleats and into right field, bringing home all three runners with unearned runs and a 3-0 lead.

Kasidi Pickering slammed a double into the gap in right-center field to lead off the third inning and moved to third when Nelly McEnroe-Marinas’ deep fly ball was caught on the warning track in right. Ailana Agbayani then sent Pickering home with a sharp single through the left side for a 4-0 lead.

“Today was definitely a pick-me-up for the beginning of the season and how I’ve been doing,” Pickering said.

Gabbie Garcia led off the bottom of the fourth with a double into the right field corner, took third on Abigale Dayton’s groundout to second base, and came home on a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead.

Parker then followed that with a bloop double behind shortstop, extending her hitting streak to 15 games dating back to last year.

After Cydney Sanders walked, Pickering then smashed a three-run home run into the the shrubs behind the center field wall for an 8-0 lead. With runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Maya Bland drove a pitch to the left field wall for the third out.

“I think, to be honest, the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen these guys hit the ball much harder early in the game as well, like setting the tone,” Gasso said. “So we didn’t do anything wrong. We did everything right. Defense was great, pitching outstanding.”

OU resumes action in the Norman Tournament on Sunday with a 3:30 p.m. game against Wichita State before closing with two on Monday against Bowling Green (11 a.m.) and Abilene Christian (2 p.m.)

All games are scheduled to be televised by SEC Network+.

NORMAN — The first two weekends couldn’t have gone much better for Oklahoma.

Patty Gasso’s new-look Sooners got tested throughout their California swing, and then OU made strides to dominate last weekend at the Getterman Classic in Waco, TX.

Now, the No. 2-ranked team in the land will get to make their full debut in front of hordes of Sooner fans at Love’s Field this weekend.

“I’m loving them right now,” Gasso said of her team on Tuesday. “They are just very hard working, they are fearless, they hustle, they’re strong, they play as a team, they’re somewhat intimidating on the field, they’re fast, they’re clutch — everything I’m looking for.

“I really, really enjoyed them this last weekend. I thought they played really, really well.”

Oklahoma is getting contributions from familiar faces.

Ella Parker has stacked back-to-back SEC Co-Player of the Week honors, and both Kasidi Pickering and Cydney Sanders have been excellent alongside her.

The newcomers, spearheaded by Abigale Dayton, look comfortable.

And OU’s pitching staff looks polished, as Campbell transfer Isabella Smith and Lousiana transfer Sam Landry have already thrown a five inning perfect game each.

“I really feel they’re very comfortable with each other,” Gasso said. “They fight. They fight as a team.”

The defense has been excellent, too, which has helped unlock a new dimension from some of OU’s new hurlers.

“Knowing how good our defense is and trusting them and trusting the coaches has allowed me to go in the strike zone a little bit more,” Landry said. “So if you look at my previous stats you’ll probably see I have a lot more walks even at this point in the season than I do this season. And that was just something because I always bit around the zone and I will admit I hated getting hit. But we’ve been working on that because it’s not that I hated getting hit, I just hated the ball getting put in play because I would get scared of what was going to happen sometimes.

“So I really trust our defense and I feel like it just really allows me to go at hitters because I know they’re going to make a play.”

Nelly McEnroe-Marinas has slotted in a third and been steady. BYU transfer Ailana Agbayani has been as advertised at second alongside Sanders at first, and a pair of talented freshmen continue to battle at shortstop.

Gabbie Garcia saw most of the action in the field during OU’s first weekend, and then Sydney Barker came alive at the plate in Waco.

She went 5-for-10 at the plate in two games each against Hofstra and Baylor, hitting two home runs, a triple and totaling 10 RBIs.

Putting the nerves of opening weekend in rearview was huge for Barker, but her continued work with OU associate head coach and hitting coach JT Gasso has paid dividends, too.

“It’s a lot about repetition,” Barker said. “Obviously hitting it hard at OU, we hit it hard every singled in the cages whether we’re able to get outside or we’re staying in. We just hit it hard every single day and so I think that makes just a huge difference.

“But also like Coach Gasso was saying, we’re just all so comfortable with each other and it’s kind of a feeling, I know my teammates are going to have my back as I have theirs. So it’s a very comfortable feeling going into these games this past weekend.”

Now, OU will have to get comfortable at Love’s Field.

The team got a taste of Oklahoma’s stomping grounds during fall ball, but there will be a different energy on opening day Saturday for all the new faces to get adjusted to.

“There’s 4,500 people here, it sounded as loud as the College World Series,” Gasso said. “It was just deafening to the ears. The sounds. It was fun, but we were playing very scared and nervous and tight, but we have gotten used to it. I hope this new team will feel it and get used to it quickly.”

Oklahoma will get going at 3 p.m. Saturday against Tulsa, and OU takes on Abilene Christian on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. On Monday, the Sooners face Bowling Green at 11 a.m. and Abilene Christian at 2 p.m.

The Oklahoma Sooners softball program is reportedly set to sign Paige Lowary, a distinguished former pitcher, for a record-breaking $85.5 million. This unprecedented deal underscores the program’s commitment to excellence and its strategic approach to player acquisition.

Lowary, a native of Dallas Center, Iowa, began her collegiate career at the University of Missouri before transferring to the University of Oklahoma. During her tenure with the Sooners, she made significant contributions both as a starting and relief pitcher.

Notably, in the 2017 Women’s College World Series, Lowary played a pivotal role in leading Oklahoma to the national championship, where they triumphed over Florida with a 5–4 victory.

Under the leadership of head coach Patty Gasso, the Sooners have established themselves as a dominant force in collegiate softball. Gasso’s tenure has been marked by a remarkable 34 seasons as head coach, with a career collegiate coaching record of 1,676-411-3 (.802), and a record of 1,515-352-2 (.811) at Oklahoma.

Her strategic vision and commitment to player development have been instrumental in the program’s sustained success.

The reported signing of Lowary for $85.5 million reflects a broader trend in collegiate athletics, where financial investments are increasingly directed toward securing top-tier talent. This move is anticipated to bolster the Sooners’ pitching rotation, providing a seasoned and accomplished player to mentor the next generation of athletes.

As the Sooners prepare for the upcoming season, the addition of Lowary is expected to have a significant impact on the team’s performance, further solidifying their position as a powerhouse in collegiate softball.

navlistOklahoma Sooners Softball’s Dominance in Collegiate Sports

NORMAN — No. 3 Oklahoma Softball was well represented in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Softball weekly awards listing as sophomore Ella Parker was tabbed as Co-SEC Softball Player of the Week and senior Sam Landry was selected as SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week as announced Monday, Feb. 17.

It’s Parker’s second selection in as many weeks, while Landry picked up Oklahoma Softball’s first-ever weekly pitching honor as a member of the SEC. The senior was honored as Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week seven times at Louisiana before transferring to OU prior to the 2025 season.

Oklahoma went 4-0 at the Getterman Classic hosted by Baylor this past weekend, earning four run-rule victories. The Sooners defeated Hofstra and No. 23/24 Baylor twice apiece, moving to 10-0 on the season for the fourth time in five years.

Parker was all over opposing pitching, hitting .750 (9-for-12) with nine runs, six RBIs, two doubles, two home runs and a walk. She homered twice against Hofstra in an 8-0 win and hit safely in all four games, posting three multi-hit performances.

The sophomore is leading the SEC in batting average (.647) as well as hits (22) and doubles (7). Parker is riding a 10-game hitting streak, while also having scored in nine of 10 games

Landry locked down Baylor with 5.1 perfect innings across two appearances in OU’s perfect weekend. The righty twirled a five-inning perfect game in an 8-0 win against No. 23/24 Baylor, while retiring the only batter she faced in game one against the Bears.

The senior struck out eight and needed only 61 pitches across the two games. She fired 42 strikes in 56 pitches to the plate in her perfect game, which was the 23rd perfect game in program history and the second this season.

Landry is 2-0 with a 1.72 earned run average and 31 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. She has only allowed 14 hits and two walks in five appearances.

Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said her redshirt junior outfielder suffered an ankle sprain in the Sooners’ second game of the year against San Diego State.

Oklahoma outfielder Hannah Coor is nearing a return.

Coor exited OU’s second game of the season against San Diego State after she appeared to injure her ankle while on second base.

“Nothing is broken, which it good,” Sooners coach Patty Gasso said on Tuesday. “It was just a really hard sprain.”

Gasso said Coor’s ankle was in a protective boot, and while there isn’t a set timeline, she will be back in the lineup this season.

“I think she’s going to get out of the boot this week and doing rehab at least twice a day,” Gasso said. “So she’s not too far. She’s definitely going to be back in commission.”

She had gone 2-for-4 with an RBI before the injury.

Coor did not appear in OU’s other four games throughout the Sooners’ opening weekend, and she was absent in the lineup during the Getterman Classic last weekend in Waco.

The redshirt junior has previously battled back issues in her Oklahoma career.

She made 63 appearances last year for the Sooners, primarily as a defensive replacement, but she went .211 at the plate in 38 at-bats with eight RBIs, two doubles, one walk and she was hit by two pitches.

Coor only made four appearances in 2023, and she played in 40 games in 2022.

Without Coor, Ella Parker sa

w more action in the outfield which allowed freshmen infielders Sydney Barker and Gabbie Garcia to switch between starting at shortstop and designated player.

In a major coup for the University of Oklahoma, five-star forward Giselle Juarez, the highest-rated uncommitted player in the 2025 recruiting class, has officially pledged to play for the Sooners. This announcement, which has sent waves through the college basketball world, marks a huge step forward for head coach Jennie Baranczyk’s program as they continue to build on their recent success.

Juarez, a versatile and dynamic player, has been a highly sought-after prospect due to her combination of size, athleticism, and skill. Ranked among the top players in the nation, she has showcased her ability to dominate both ends of the floor with her rebounding, scoring, and defensive prowess. Her commitment to OU is a major milestone for the Sooners as they look to elevate their program to new heights.

This recruitment process has been closely followed by fans and analysts alike, as Juarez’s decision has been eagerly anticipated for months. Her decision to join OU comes after a highly competitive recruitment process, where she had offers from several powerhouse programs. Juarez’s commitment solidifies OU’s position as a top contender in women’s college basketball, bringing in a player who is expected to make an immediate impact once she arrives on campus.

Her addition to the Sooners’ roster not only strengthens the team’s future but also further cements OU’s reputation as a destination for top-tier talent. With Juarez now committed, the Sooners are poised for a bright future as they continue to build a championship-contending team.

As of February 19, 2025, there are no credible reports or news articles indicating that Oklahoma softball star Jayda Coleman is in trouble or that head coach Patty Gasso has threatened her. In fact, recent coverage highlights the positive impact of Jayda Coleman’s leadership on the Oklahoma softball program.

In an article published eight months ago, Sports Illustrated emphasized that Jayda Coleman’s influence will resonate for the next generation of Oklahoma softbSooners.

Additionally, Heartland Sports reported in April 2024 that Coleman’s offensive performance earned her national recognition, extending the Sooners’ winning streak.

Furthermore, Coach Patty Gasso has expressed confidence in the team’s direction, stating that the Sooners are “starting to roll” in the right direction.

Given the lack of credible information supporting the claim of Jayda Coleman being in trouble or threatened by Coach Gasso, it is advisable to verify the authenticity of such news before drawing conclusions.

We’re going to be saying constantly regarding OU softball and 2025. It’s just a different feeling. Spots you knew from the last few years are now up for grabs.

It’s one of the goals of the Battle Series and fall ball. The Battle Series takes a break this week as OU heads to Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday evening for a scrimmage.

OU has had two Battle Series events so far.

And here is what head coach Patty Gasso and players Sam Landry and Ella Parker had to say about last week’s matchup and the progress so far.

pretty much anywhere. Ella can play the outfield, she can play first, she can pitch. They all do a lot of things very well so much of our decision-making is going to come from who’s on the mound and the matchups that happen because right now everybody can handle themselves really well on defense. I was really having fun watching Tia Milloy tonight. I liked her in the leadoff and she just moves, I mean she really does. There’s just so much… It’s going to be really, I hope, you would think, very fun to watch this team as we start to figure ourselves out a bit.”

little raw back there still.

“But everything else… Our pitchers were not great tonight, and I know Coach Rocha let them know that, which I loved, but you’re also facing a very good offense, and we get to see them a lot. So you got to, as a pitcher, you have to really have thick skin in the fall because you just keep facing very good hitters that pretty much know what you’ve got. That’s why to have any of our pitchers get a shutout in their innings is a big deal.”

“It’s good, it feels good. She reminds me so much of Syd Romero, and that’s a very good comparison and something that I think she would be excited to hear. She’s still a redshirt — she’s a freshman, not completely though. But she’s fallen in and is really fighting for that spot. So I’m really excited for that for Nelly.”

“I thought she caught it really well tonight. I tried to run on her a little bit. She’s been working at practice on delivering the ball a little quicker. She did really well at that tonight. She takes big swings. I can hear the fans go ooh when she swings and misses. It was good to see her get some super solid contact tonight. I think that was good for her.”

“When freshmen come here, they come in pretty intimidated. You’re walking into a program that has just won the last four national championships. They come in here and go, I’m not good enough, not worthy to be here. You have to get them to understand that they are. Because otherwise you’re telling us we don’t know how to recruit. Get them on the field and throw them right in the mix with everybody. What’s really important for our program is culture.

“They don’t have to be best friends, but they have to respect each other and freshmen sometimes come in and are youthful and silly. That’s OK until it becomes a distraction. I think our team has done a good job, the elders, of letting them get that out and said, OK, but here’s where you need to stop doing that. Our freshmen are going to be a very integral part of this program and this season. We need them, and they’re falling in very well.”

“It’s definitely been a different role, but just appreciate what we had last year and just taking all the lessons that I learned into now and just kind of trying to be really welcoming to all the freshmen and the transfers. It’s a new year, new team, same goal. We’re really excited.”

“It’s actually been a lot better than I anticipated, which is really good. I’m really big with my family so being away from them was hard. But this is one of the best teams I’ve ever been on and they’re going to invite you to do everything or they’re just going to show up to your house and hang out with you. Which I love that, so it’s been really good. Working with Coach Rocha is just a blessing in itself. She’s a very confident person which gives me a lot of confidence when I go out there. So I’m loving it.”

“I think I blacked out. I would say a lot of what we talked about was faith which is really big to me. I’m big into my faith and anybody that will sit there and have a 45-minute conversation with you and most of it is about your faith, that’s where you want to be.”

Oklahoma softball’s offense proved to be too much for Texas, winning Game 2 of the WCWS Championship Series 8-4, securing the Sooners’ fourth straight national title.

Thursday night’s matchup had similar events to the night before. Oklahoma led early and was supplemented by fantastic offense in the middle innings, stifling a late comeback attempt by the Longhorns.

Oklahoma led by one after the second inning before Texas initially started to come to life. In a small-ball two-out rally, Texas captain Alyssa Washington drove in shortstop Viviana Martinez, tying the game in the top of the third. With the bases still loaded, DH Joley Mitchell had a chance to give Texas its first major advantage of the tournament.

Working a 2-0 count, Texas looked in control. Two more balls and the Longhorns walked in a run, which meant Oklahoma’s Karlie Keeney had to throw a strike. Keeney, however, battled through the at-bat, forcing a 3-2 count. In a battle that was likely to dictate the momentum for the rest of the game, Keeney forced a week grounder to the right side, an easy play for the Sooners as the Longhorns left three on base.

Texas would take the lead in the top of the fourth thanks to center fielder Kayden Henry’s speed and some luck with an error by Oklahoma, but the bottom of the fourth was where the Sooners truly broke the game open.

With starting pitcher Mac Morgan out of the game for the Longhorns after just three innings, reliever Estelle Czech was tasked with getting through the Sooners lineup. Oklahoma struck quickly, loading the bases in 16 pitches with just one out on the board. Another massive payoff pitch came in the at-bat between Czech and first baseman Cydney Sanders, with both players battling into a 3-2 count. Czech choose a pitch low in the zone and Sanders turned on it, sending the ball into the right-center gap. The bases cleared, and what felt like a home crowd in Oklahoma City erupted as Oklahoma was now up twoTexas would take the lead in the top of the fourth thanks to center fielder Kayden Henry’s speed and some luck with an error by Oklahoma, but the bottom of the fourth was where the Sooners truly broke the game open.

With starting pitcher Mac Morgan out of the game for the Longhorns after just three innings, reliever Estelle Czech was tasked with getting through the Sooners lineup. Oklahoma struck quickly, loading the bases in 16 pitches with just one out on the board. Another massive payoff pitch came in the at-bat between Czech and first baseman Cydney Sanders, with both players battling into a 3-2 count. Czech choose a pitch low in the zone and Sanders turned on it, sending the ball into the right-center gap. The bases cleared, and what felt like a home crowd in Oklahoma City erupted as Oklahoma was now up two. .

It wasn’t until the sixth inning that action resumed, as Texas began to knock on the door once again. The Longhorns found unexpected power from nine-hole hitter Ashton Maloney, whose double brought Mitchell to third after her walk. Texas had the tying run on second with just one out and the top of the order coming up.

First stepped Bella Dayton, the leadoff batter and arguably one of the most consistent hitters on the team. Dayton worked a 1-1 count but swung hard and missed on relief pitcher Nicole May’s changeup. Frazzled, Dayton would whiff on the next pitch, setting up third baseman Mia Scott with a two-out RBI chance.

But Scott wouldn’t face May. A familiar face emerged from the Sooner bullpen after a mound visit, Kelly Maxwell. The Oklahoma State transfer had dominated in the previous night’s matchup, and the veteran was being asked to finish the final four outs of the Sooners’ potential fourpeat.

Scott quickly fell behind 0-2, with the hopes of the Longhorn fans dwindling. On the 0-2 pitch, Scott chopped a ball to the right side, forcing a tough play for second baseman Avery Hodge. Safe was Scott, as was Mitchell at home, and Texas had brought the game within one, two runners still on base.

But as the camera panned to the celebrating Longhorns, a random eruption came from the Oklahoma fans. Out number three was called, and panic ensued. Scott, for seemingly no apparent reason, decided to step into the basepaths between first and second. Either a mental lapse or a misjudgment from the senior meant she couldn’t react in time to being tagged out. Texas’ rally had been quieted by an uncharacteristic mistake, and from there the wheels fell off.

The Sooners added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, pushing the lead to four. With all the momentum on their side, Texas had no hopes of defeating Maxwell and getting back into the game. A 1-2-3 top of the seventh ended the Longhorns season in second place, a fantastic accomplishment for the team, but a frustrating result at the hands of its most bitter rival.