Oklahoma softball: Primetime Bedlam series for the world to see
By Connor Pasby
You couldn’t script a better ending to the season than what the top-ranked Oklahoma softball team has in front of them.
The regular season reaches the finish line this weekend, with the in-state Bedlam rivalry between the Sooners and Oklahoma State. To add even more flavor to the longtime rivalry, Bedlam this season matches not only the top two teams in the Big 12 but the No. 1 and No. 7 teams in the country, as well.
Bedlam softball has become one of the best, most anticipated rivalries in all of softball, and it’s showing how dominant the sport is in Oklahoma.
It’ll be the third time in the last four years that both teams come in ranked among the country’s top-15 teams. in the USA Softball Collegiate Rankings. The No.1- ranked Sooners will be looking to defend their Big-12 regular season crown (now nine times running), while the Oklahoma State Cowgirls look to play spoiler at OU’s Marita Hynes Field.
“As a player, as a coach, emotion is fun. These are the games you live for.” — OU head coach Patty Gasso
The all-important three-game series begins Thursday night and runs through Saturday, with all three games set to be televised on the ESPN platform of cable channels.
Many Oklahomans have been waiting for more Sooners softball games to be televised nationally. Well, here it is: Thursday night’s Bedlam game will be televised on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT. The second game on Friday will be televised on ESPN2, followed by the series finale on ESPNU on Saturday.
Oklahoma cead coach Patty Gasso understands the high stakes and the emotions that go into Bedlam softball series:
"“When two teams are intensely trying to win a championship, there’s a lot of emotion,” Gasso said in her weekly press conference this week. “But as a player, as a coach, emotion is fun. That is what it’s about. These are games that you live for,” Gasso said."
Marita Hynes Field only holds 1,378, but there will be more than that packed into the facility this weekend, whether they have to stand, or just find somewhere in the outfield. Everybody around the state and elsewhere in the country wants to see this top-10 matchup.
"“I think the state has a lot of be proud of, without question,” the OU head coach said. “Oklahoma State’s really elevated their program, and for us to be playing for championships is really spoiling the state of Oklahoma”."
The Bedlam series will feature some of the best softball players in the country. Whether its Jocelyn Alo and Tiare Jennings coming up with clutch hits, or OSU’s Miranda Elish doing it on the mound and at the plate. It’s hard not to be fascinated over the dominance that Sooner freshman sensation Jordy Bahl has shown this season. The highly energetic, confident, and uber-talented freshmen has stepped up big for the Sooners, and will be a key to their success this weekend.
The stakes are high, like they always are for Bedlam softball. The Sooners have been on top of the college softball world for the past two years, but Oklahoma State is showing its dominance as well.
No matter what happens in this Bedlam series, both teams will have a chance to make a deep run in the postseason and will likely meet again both next week in the Big !2 Championship as well as the 2022 Women’s College World Series.