No. 1 OU softball's 71-game winning streak snapped, 7-5 (8 innings)
It had to happen eventually, but nobody saw the OU softball winning streak being snapped on Love’s Field weekend.
But that’s what went down. A game of incredibly uncharacteristic mistakes, and it finally caught up to OU in a shocking 7-5 loss to Louisiana in eight innings to wrap up the OU Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
A weekend that began with a bang and the opening of Love’s Field and all the pageantry and, rightful, celebration that came along with it. But it ends with OU needing to take a deep breath and get back to work.
“We are human. We are human beings,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “That’s what happened today. Got to absolutely give credit to Louisiana. They played well. They pitched well. Hit the ball hard. They did everything they needed to do. They deserved to win 100 percent.
“We knew a game like this would be coming at some time. I don’t know that we were ready to have it happen here, but it happened. So nothing was good enough today for us. I mean we had the spirit of coming back which was great.
“But from defense to pitching to timely hitting, we wasted a lot of time early in the game. This was a game we didn’t deserve to win. And we know how to come back, I know. There’s too much pride on this team to mope around. We’re gonna come back and be stronger. We’ve shown that and we’re made like that.”
The Sooners (18-1) didn’t go do down without a fight. Down 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth, Cydney Sanders cut the margin down to 7-5 with a solo home run. Alynah Torres had a two-out single, but Jayda Coleman grounded out. The 71-game winning streak snapped.
“I think coach is exactly right. We didn’t do anything to deserve this game,” co-captain Kinzie Hansen said. “Credit to (Louisiana), they came ready to play. We didn’t deserve to win. But this game doesn’t define us. Softball doesn’t define us. And I’m excited to come back next weekend to see what it looks like.”
OU trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth before Hansen hit a two-run home run. Then the Sooners trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the seventh before rallying to send it to extra innings.
The fight was always there, but the execution simply wasn’t. Baserunning errors and mistakes defensively you simply do not see from the No. 1-ranked team.
It was the first time since June 8, 2021, that OU committed three errors in a game. And honestly, the Sooners could have been charged with a few more.
Being No. 1 comes with the target. A target that got bigger and bigger with each victory, with each milestone.
Gasso said the emotion of the weekend wasn’t an excuse. But maybe, just maybe, OU softball can relax a bit now that the streak is no longer a thing.
“We all need to take a break,” Gasso said. “And it’s no excuse. Listen, we flat-out got beat. We admit that 100 percent. A lot of dramatics this weekend, and started well before the first game. Just the emotions and the wow factor we’re all feeling. The fans coming – it’s like the World Series. It’s what it feels like. I don’t know that we knew what to expect. We know now and ready to regroup. We need mental and physical rest.”
Clarification
OU trailed 3-2 when it looked like it was going to tie it on an Ella Parker at-bat and a collision at first base. A high throw took UL off the bag, and it appeared as though Parker helped knot the game at 3-3.
Ruled out. And under review, still ruled out.
“We were out of the running lane,” said Gasso when asked by SoonerScoop. “So it was obstruction, or interference by the runner. That’s where the contact happened. It was a crazy game like that. A lot of controversy.”
Final word
“Again, we’re human. To be on this streak that we are on was unbelievable, was ridiculously unbelievable. We take pride in that, but it’s over. We knew it was going to end. It was just when? Now we can just let it go and go back to work. And go back to who we are – blue-collar, hard-working, hustling, grinding type of team.” – Gasso on the 71-game winning streak being snapped
