It has not been the typical season for the Oklahoma Sooners on the softball field that not just fans, but everyone in the college softball world is accustomed to. Losing to Long Beach State early in the season, dropping more than just one or two games, and even losing to Georgia in the SEC Tournament have everyone wondering if the glory years of the Sooners are over.
Patty Gasso sends strong Oklahoma message Mississippi State better be ready for
Well, for anyone wishing the demise of the Oklahoma softball program, they better wish a lot hard because the Sooners are finding their groove again. The Soners outscored every team they played in the Norman Regional 28-1, with only a solo home run marring what could have been a perfect shutout weekend.
The offense was there, there is no doubt about that, but it is the pitching that really caught the attention of head coach Patty Gasso. It wasn't the dominant performance, but the change Gasso has seen in the pitching staff as of late.
"If they allow their mindset to stay where it needs to stay, maybe I threw a great pitch, but somebody hit it out, it's still a great pitch,” Gasso said. “… I think that's been the change. It's not the pitches. They have quality pitches. It's the mindset, and that has changed. I can see that change. I think Audrey's been the leader in that way and led them to understand how to do that.”
The Oklahoma pitching staff found a mind-set that takes the Sooners to a different level
Even through a season that has had its fair share of lows, at least more lows than normal for Oklahoma softball, the Sooners are playing their best softball, it feels like, at the right time. Only allowing one run in three games with some of the best teams in college softball is an impressive feat.
One of the top pitchers Gasso has seen really mold her mindset into something special is Audrey Lowry. The sophomore will be the starter in Oklahoma's first game against Mississippi State in the Super Regionals, a very high honor.
Lowry was the pitcher to give up the solo home run, the only run Oklahoma gave up over the Regional weekend, but still finished with 4.2 innings of work in the Regional Championship against Michigan with three strikeouts. Lowry has been elite for Oklahoma this season with 120.2 innings of work, a 2.61 ERA, and 88 strikeouts.
With Oklahoma facing an SEC foe that they have yet to see this season, Gasso will be leaning heavily on her pitching staff to hold things down. While the offense has been there, elite pitching is the big piece Oklahoma will need in order to punch its ticket to the Women's College World Series.
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