OU softball loses first conference series since 2011, downed 2-1 (again) at Texas

Look, OU softball head coach Patty Gasso is never going to hit the panic button. And she knows the character of her team.

But for the first time in what feels like a good long while, the Sooners have to really respond. Not just from like a blip on the radar, but now from a real challenge.

That’s exactly what Texas is and what the Longhorns provided. UT earned its second consecutive 2-1 victory against OU to take the two of three in the series Sunday afternoon in Austin.

It is OU’s first series loss since 2011. In what felt like would be a statement series for one of the teams, however, turned out it was Texas. And now game on for the Big 12 crown between OU, Texas and Oklahoma State.

You give up six runs in three games, you feel pretty confident you’re walking home a series winner. But not this weekend. The Sooners limited to just a single run Saturday and Sunday, after scoring five Friday.

It was freshman Ella Parker who gave OU its only run with a solo home run in the top of third inning. But a two-run home run by Katie Stewart in the bottom of the fourth off Kelly Maxwell proved to be the difference.

Tiare Jennings had a two-out single in the top of the seventh. But Alyssa Brito flied out to close out the game, and once again, the celebration was on in Austin.

OU remains in first at 13-2 in conference play. But OSU is nipping at its heels at 12-3, and now UT has reentered the conversation at 11-4, including the two wins vs. the Sooners.

OU gets right back to it. The Sooners are at Wichita State on Tuesday night, a rescheduled game from a couple of weeks ago. OU returns to Love’s Field for a three-game set vs. BYU, beginning Thursday night.

Texas 2, OU 1 (Saturday)

A wild ending that sees OU thrown out at the plate for the final out.

It is just OU’s second loss of the season and snaps a 40-game Big 12 conference winning streak for the Sooners.

Texas led 2-1 with two outs in the top of the seventh when Rylie Boone crushed a double. Pinch runner Maya Bland was coming around from first to score when she was thrown out at the plate.

OU head coach Patty Gasso asked for a review, looking for an obstruction call. The ruling on the field was out. The ruling after the review was still out. And the celebration was on for UT.

After OU looked dominant Friday, you could tell this was going to be a tight one throughout. The Sooners were able to get one in the top of the first on an RBI single from Tiare Jennings.

However, OU would only register three hits after the first inning.

With two down in the top of the seventh, Kinzie Hansen had a clean single and Bland was asked to run. Boone came through with the shot, but Bland was gunned down, leaving Jayda Coleman in the on deck circle without the chance to make something happen.

Senior Nicole May picks up her first loss of the season, now 11-1. She pitched 4.2 innings, allowing the two runs on five hits with six strikeouts.

OU 5, Texas 2 (Friday)

The confidence for Kelly Maxwell has been increasing with each Friday night performance and this might have been her best yet, at least through the first six innings. One hit allowed with 10 strikeouts.

But then Texas mounted a charge in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring two runs. The Horns brought the tying run to the plate, but it was another nice OU defensive play to wrap it up. And Maxwell never flinched.

A groundball that deflected off Alyssa Brito, and Tiare Jennings was ready to make the play from shortstop and secure the victory.

Maxwell is now 11-0 this season. She threw 114 pitches and tied her season high with those 10 strikeouts.

Offensively, Jayda Coleman was one of the best players in the country last weekend and kept it going against the Longhorns. She drove in one run on a single in the third. And then she put the separation with a three-run bomb in the fifth.

She is simply seeing the ball so well and waiting for her pitch. That patience has been paying off for the team all season.