OU Softball: Patty Gasso Labels Abby Dayton an SEC Savior After Unbelievable Performance Against Florida
In a game packed with pressure, precision, and postseason implications, the Oklahoma Sooners found their hero in freshman outfielder Abby Dayton. Head coach Patty Gasso didn’t mince words after OU’s 6-5 thriller against Florida on Thursday night, calling Dayton “our SEC save title,” a reference to her game-changing play that kept the Sooners’ championship hopes alive.
The SEC showdown, held under the lights with a near-sellout crowd, was already poised to be a classic. Oklahoma, ranked No. 1 nationally, entered the matchup with an undefeated conference record, but Florida, ranked fifth, wasn’t ready to back down. The Gators stormed back in the sixth inning, tying the game 5-5, setting the stage for a tense final frame.
Then came Abby Dayton.
With two outs in the top of the seventh and Florida’s go-ahead run on second, Gators slugger Skylar Wallace launched a deep line drive to right-center. It looked destined for extra bases—until Dayton, sprinting from right field, laid out full extension for a miraculous diving catch that ended the inning and preserved the tie. The crowd erupted. So did the OU dugout.
“Unbelievable,” Gasso said postgame. “That’s a championship-saving catch. She’s a freshman making a play like that under pressure—it’s something you dream about. I’m calling her our SEC save title. She delivered.”
Moments later, OU rode that momentum into the bottom of the seventh. With two runners on and one out, senior Kinzie Hansen laced a walk-off single down the left-field line, sealing the Sooners’ 6-5 win and maintaining their spotless record in SEC play.
But it was Dayton’s defensive brilliance that stole the spotlight.
“She’s been working hard all season, waiting for a moment like this,” Gasso added. “That was guts, heart, and hustle on full display.”
Dayton, humble as ever, deflected the praise.
“I just wanted to do whatever it took for my team,” she said. “We fight for every pitch. That’s Oklahoma softball.”
With the postseason approaching and Oklahoma eyeing its fourth straight national championship, performances like Dayton’s are what set the Sooners apart—not just talent, but the willingness to rise when it matters most.
OU fans may remember this game as another thrilling chapter in the program’s dynasty run. But for Patty Gasso, one thing is clear: Abby Dayton just etched her name into Sooner softball legend.
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