A 31-3 college softball team not being good enough seems like a laughable statement to some, but that’s the standard Patty Gasso has set for the Oklahoma Sooners, who have won the last four national championships.
The No. 2 Sooners on Sunday dropped a 5-3 rubber match to the No 9 Tennessee Volunteers at Love's Field. It's the first time OU lost a series since losing two of three to Oklahoma State last May, when the Sooners were still in the Big 12.
OU lost Game 1 to Tennessee 5-2 in extra innings Friday night after former Sooner Sophia Nugent hit a two-run blast to ultimately propel her new team to the upset. The Sooners then recovered Game 2 and won 4-1 on Saturday thanks to an outstanding complete-game performance from Kierston Deal in the circle.
But in Game 3, the Sooners were not good enough, and haven't been.
"It’s humbling, but we know we’re not good enough," Gasso said postgame. "We’re winning, but we’re still not good enough. It did not feel good watching this happen on our own field. ...
"But this is what this young team has to learn."
#Sooners coach Patty Gasso following a home series loss to Tennessee: “We’re not good enough.” pic.twitter.com/BasrjNUphA
— Colton Sulley (@colton_sulley) March 30, 2025
Despite a perfect start, the Sooners have certainly been imperfect.
The Sooners have lost three of their last six games since suffering their first deficit of the season last weekend to Missouri, the only unranked SEC team left on OU's schedule. They started 2025 at 28-0 through a weak nonconference schedule.
The Band-Aid was ripped off last weekend, though. First, there was that loss to Missouri when OU's bats went cold before winning Game 3, 5-1. But in the midweek game against Wichita State on Wednesday, the Sooners' imperfections were obvious in a 19-16 slugfest.
OU won but couldn't stop a Shockers lineup that doesn't compare to an average SEC starting nine. It was obvious OU needed another arm to compliment ace Sam Landry. However, it was Landry who was the losing pitcher in both losses to Tennessee.
Gasso set up a weak beginning of the season to prep for weekly series like the one against Tennessee, a top-10 team that will likely be in the Women's College World Series. By this point, OU was supposed to have a starting rotation figured out and an impenetrable lineup that has become the norm in Norman.
Through that 31-3 record, the Sooners are 7-2 against teams currently ranked. OU beat a top-25 Baylor early in the season, but now the Bears are well below .500. OU is 3-3 since its 31-game winning streak ended.
These are numbers other college softball programs would boast about. Other coaches would be excited for the postseason.
But when Gasso says her team is not good enough, she means great enough. The Sooners are good, but for Gasso and OU, that's not enough.