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Oklahoma softball: First weekend at Love's Field brings plenty of historic firsts

By Chip Rouse

Fans fill the stadium during an NCAA softball game between Oklahoma (OU) and Liberty on opening day for the Sooners new, state-of-the-art Love's Field.
Fans fill the stadium during an NCAA softball game between Oklahoma (OU) and Liberty on opening day for the Sooners new, state-of-the-art Love's Field. / NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY
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It stands to reason, particularly if you're a fan of Oklahoma softball, that the best team in the college sport the past three-plus seasons and for a good part of the past decade, is deserving of playing in the biggest and best home stadium.

That became reality this past weekend as the three-time defending national champions opened their 2024 home schedule at beautiful new Love's Field while also riding an NCAA record 71-game winning streak. Record crowds were in attendance all three days of the OU Tournament, which was easy to do because the new stadium, with a capacity of 4,200, more than doubles the size of the Sooners' previous home of 26 seasons at Marita Hynes Field, which sits just south of the new stadium.

Oklahoma christened it's new ballpark, winning four of five games. The one it didn't win, though, a 7-5 loss to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in the tournament finale on Sunday, ended the Sooners record 71-game winning streak. The streak, covering 373 days, was historic and remarkable in and of itself, but so are some of the statistical anomalies associated with it.

  • The streak began on Feb. 24, 2023, with an 8-0 shutout and run-rule win over Cal State Fullerton.
  • Forty of the Sooners 71 wins were by shutout; 39 were by run-rule.
  • Oklahoma scored 578 runs during the streak and gave up just 72 runs to opponents.
  • The Sooners hit 138 home runs during the streak and allowed just 28.
  • Oklahoma defeated 42 different teams during the 71-game winning streak.
  • The Sooners were outhit just twice in the 71 games.

In the 7-5 loss to Louisiana that ended the streak, OU committed three errors. The Sooners committed a total of 20 errors during the win streak.

Here are some historic firsts at Love's Field on its opening weekend

First Oklahoma hit: Jayda Coleman, a double in the first inning vs. Miami of Ohio.

First OU home run: Alyssa Brito, a solo home run in the fifth inning vs. Miami of Ohio.

First Sooner RBI: Ella Parker on a sacrifice fly in first inning vs. Miami of Ohio.

First run scored: Jayda Coleman in first inning on Ella Parker's sacrifice fly in first inning vs. Miami of Ohio.

First Oklahoma strikeout by a pitcher: Nicole May in first inning vs. Miami of Ohio.

First complete game: Kelly Maxwell vs. Liberty.

First shutout by an OU pitcher: Kelly Maxwell vs. Liberty.

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