Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma softball: This season has never been about winning every game

By Chip Rouse

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 09: Nicole Mendes #11 high-fives Tiare Jennings #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners after making an outfield catch during the second inning of Game 2 of the Women's College World Series Championship against the Florida St. Seminoles at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on June 09, 2021 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 09: Nicole Mendes #11 high-fives Tiare Jennings #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners after making an outfield catch during the second inning of Game 2 of the Women's College World Series Championship against the Florida St. Seminoles at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on June 09, 2021 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

As disappointing as last weekend’s loss to Texas was at the time, it will have little or no bearing on the 2022 Oklahoma softball season.

If anything, the Sooners’ first defeat after 40 consecutive wins will help the reigning national champions learn from the situation and become even stronger, and at the most important point of the season.

Some will also tell you that the loss to Texas in the 39th game of the season is a blessing in disguise because it takes the pressure off the Sooners themselves to keep on winning and keep the streak alive. Now they can just focus on going out every game and playing their best, which even at less than their best, generally speaking, is good enough to beat any team in the country.

"“To be realistic, we weren’t going to go undefeated through the season,” head coach Patty Gasso told reporters, including Ryan Aber of The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman.“It was just a matter of time. We got outplayed, and that’s exactly why we have our first loss.”"

Oklahoma had already broken the NCAA all-time record for consecutive wins to begin a season and were one win shy of tying the OU program record for consecutive wins. The all-time record for consecutive wins is held by the 1996-97 Arizona team at 47.

Including the one loss so far this season, the Sooners have won 101 of their last 106 games dating back to the start of the 2021 season and have easily been the most dominant team over that period.

Not surprisingly, the Texas series did nothing to change the Sooners’ standing as the No. 1 team in the nation, a position they have owned since March 2, 2021. It also helped OU’s cause that Alabama, Virginia Tech and Florida State, the teams immediately below the Sooners in the national rankings, also lost over the weekend. Each of those teams, however, have at least five losses.

What’s ahead for No. 1 Oklahoma

Eleven more games remain in the 2022 regular season, nine of which are conference games. Two of the final three Big 12 series will be in Norman, including what will be a huge Bedlam softball series with No. 7 Oklahoma State May 5-7 at Marita Hynes Field. That series will likely determine the Big 12 champion. The Cowgirls are the current conference leaders with an 11-1 record.

But the Sooners have plenty of business to take care of before then. They will play at North Texas on Wednesday, which will serve as a reunion of sorts for OU pitcher Hope Trautwein, who transferred from that school this past offseason.

The Green Mean of North Texas will not be a pushover for OU. North Texas owns a 25-10 overall record and is the West Division leader in Conference USA with a 13-5 league record. Oklahoma is 31-1 all-time against the Green Mean and 9-0 in games played at North Texas.

Iowa State (21-21, 2-7) will be in Norman over the weekend. The Sooners lead the all-time series 87-28, but have played the Lady Cyclones better on the road than they have in Norman, where OU’s record is 31-12.

What fans need to know about the Oklahoma-Iowa State series

  • Iowa State has lost three straight Big 12 series this season. Their two wins came against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
  • The Cyclones rank 5th in the Big 12 in both team batting average (.286) and staff ERA (3.98).
  • Only three Iowa State starters have a batting average above .300: Carli Spelhaug (.359), Mykala Ramos (.338) and Angelina Allen (.328).
  • The Sooners lead the Big 12 with a batting average of .375 and a staff ERA of 0.60.
  • OU’s Jocelyn Alo, Jayda Coleman, Rylie Boone, Taylon Snow and Grace Lyons rank one through five, respectively, in the Big 12 in hitting, all with averages of .425 or higher.
  • The Sooners rank No. 1 in the country with 105 home runs this season. Three OU position players rank in the top-10 nationally in this department: Alo (21), Lyons (17) and Tiare Jennings (16).
  • With the series win over Texas, Oklahoma has now won 63 consecutive Big 12 series and 66 of the last 67. The last time the Sooners lose a conference series was in 2011.

“

Home/OU softball