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Patty Gasso on the strength of Oklahoma softball lineup vs. Northwestern: 'Pick your poison'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz06/02/22NickSchultz_7

Oklahoma trailed Northwestern 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning during the Women’s College World Series Thursday afternoon. Then, the Sooners scored six runs to take the lead — and Patty Gasso was impressed.

The Sooners scored on an RBI single from Jana Johns, set up by a leadoff double from Rylie Boone. After a single from Jayda Coleman, Northwestern walked the powerful Jocelyn Alo. That proved costly as Tiare Jennings hit a grand slam to break things open.

Walking Alo seems like a no-brainer on paper considering she’s hit 34 home runs this year. But Gasso noted the OU lineup is full of pop, and it makes things tough on opposing teams.

“We’ve got enough in the lineup that if you want to walk somebody, we’ve got someone very strong behind them,” Gasso told ESPN’s Holly Rowe during an in-game interview. “So it’s kind of pick your poison. It’s really a tough decision that I’m glad I’m not in.”

That grand slam probably doesn’t happen without Boone’s leadoff double, which was huge considering Northwestern had the lead. Gasso said all teams need in the Women’s College World Series is a spark— especially in game one. Boone provided just that.

“Really important in a big game like this, especially when you’re behind,” Gasso said. “The first game is always a little jittery, so to see her come in in the eight spot and get things started, it just kind of opened up the floodgates for us.”

Oklahoma enters the WCWS as a No. 1 seed and is facing No. 9 seed Northwestern in the first round. The Sooners had a huge regular season, going 54-2 overall and 17-1 in Big 12 play. Their only losses came at the hands of Texas in the regular season and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Softball Tournament.