OU Softball: Unusual Errors in All Areas Push Oklahoma into Tuesday’s Elimination Game
OKLAHOMA CITY — Even a dominant team like Oklahoma can struggle when nothing seems to go right.
Every team has an off day, and for the Sooners, that day was Monday in the Women’s College World Series semifinals, where they suffered a surprising 9-3 loss to the Florida Gators.
Last year, the team was nearly perfect, securing their third consecutive championship with a 61-1 record. However, no team is infallible, and perfection should never be expected.
The Sooners had been on an impressive run—an 11-game winning streak, 10 consecutive WCWS victories, 20 straight NCAA Tournament wins, and three national championships in a row—making another title seem inevitable.
Now, the Sooners must regroup for an elimination rematch against the Gators on Tuesday. The winner will advance to the WCWS Championship Series starting Wednesday at Devon Park.
“They’re fighters,” coach Patty Gasso said. “It’s hard to beat us twice, but it has happened this season. This is a real test: they know what’s at stake. So who are we? What are we made of?”
The rematch, initially scheduled for Monday afternoon, was postponed to Tuesday due to weather. Texas and Stanford are in the other semifinal, with the top-seeded Longhorns needing only one win to advance.
On Monday, the Sooners, usually dominant in hitting, defense, pitching, and base running, faltered in every aspect of the game.
Gasso, who has 1,512 career victories, often praises her defense. However, on Monday, defensive errors contributed significantly to the Gators’ first three runs.
In the first inning, shortstop Tiare Jennings was slow to react to a routine ground ball, resulting in an infield single for Korbe Otis, who later scored. In the second inning, Rylie Boone misjudged a fly ball, leading to an inside-the-park home run for Kendra Falby. Skylar Wallace followed with two home runs, extending Florida’s lead.
Base running also hurt the Sooners, notably when Kasidi Pickering made a crucial mistake at third base in the second inning.
“Oh, that was totally my fault,” Gasso admitted. “I own that. It was an unbelievable play. I was looking at the next runner. That was on me.”
The Sooners missed opportunities, while the Gators capitalized on every chance.
Oklahoma’s batting struggled initially, hitting only .143 as a team until the fifth inning. Jennings’ two-run home run in the fifth brought some hope, but OU left 10 runners on base.
Pitching also failed the Sooners. Gasso chose Nicole May to start, but she lasted only two innings, giving up four runs. Kierston Deal relieved her, allowing three more runs.
Ace Kelly Maxwell will likely be available for Tuesday’s game.
Asked if pressure affected the team, Gasso acknowledged it could. “We have a team that’s very athletic and used to winning. When they don’t get what they want, it can be disruptive.”
Jennings and Hansen echoed these sentiments, emphasizing their experience and determination to bounce back from this setback.
Florida’s three-run fourth inning gave them a 7-1 lead, the largest deficit OU had faced since 2022. Despite a brief rally, the Sooners couldn’t close the gap, with Wallace’s two-run home run in the fifth sealing their fate.
OU loaded the bases in the seventh but couldn’t capitalize.
“We need to be firing on all cylinders tomorrow,” Gasso said. “We can’t rely on just one part of our game and expect to win at the World Series. We need everything working for us tomorrow.”
