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Oklahoma has performed passably in 2024.With a perfect 9-0 record, the top-ranked Sooners continue their NCAA-record 62-game winning streak.They have defeated Duke and Washington, who are ranked No. 8 and No. 4 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, respectively, four times by run-rule.However, as head coach Patty Gasso herself admits, OU is only beginning to scratch the surface.
Following Oklahoma’s 5-0 weekend at McNeese State’s Cowgirl Challenge, Gasso stated on Tuesday, “I thought this last weekend we were good enough to win.” “We got away with being more average than exceptional or even above average.”
The Sooners’ pitching staff gave up just one run all weekend, but in their 3-0 victory over McNeese State on Saturday, OU’s hitters left ten runners on base.
In addition, Oklahoma’s victories over Duke and Washington during the inaugural weekend in Puerto Vallarta each saw ten runners left on base.
Gasso declared, “This (past) weekend, our defence was really good.” “I don’t believe we made any mistakes. The batting is going to swiftly catch up to the excellent pitching.”
Gasso needs to go back in time and adopt her former behaviours in order to get the squad operating at full capacity.”We discussed as a team that we want to focus on improving our practice and intensity because it’s showing in games, which is not what we want,” Gasso stated. “I feel like I have to be more aware of these things, stop them, call them out, do it again, hustle, use athletic movements, and hustle in an athletic way.”
Early-season nervousness can be partially blamed for the sluggish start.
Transfer pitcher Kelly Maxwell, by her own admission, was anxious before facing Duke in her Oklahoma debut, but she adapted well.
In a similar vein, Gasso claimed that sophomore pitcher Kierston Deal overcame nervousness in Puerto Vallarta and responded by outlasting Lamar with ten strikeouts on Saturday.
However, it also appears that Gasso is still figuring out which buttons to click.A year ago, Oklahoma accomplished a thing that had not been accomplished in collegiate softball for more than thirty years: winning consecutive national titles.The Sooners will need to take a step that no programme at the highest level of college softball has ever taken in order to make history once more and end June by winning another trophy at the Women’s College World Series.
Gasso declared, “This is uncharted territory.” It’s difficult; I’m not even sure what advice I could give you to handle things differently. How do I keep them interested and satiated at the same time? They have three rings on their finger, you know. What else would you like?
And that’s what we need to be focused on—building a workforce that enjoys the process rather than the final product. loving one another. Loving and dedicating ourselves to our daily work. Furthermore, we may have been a little careless. And that’s my fault. I take full responsibility for that. I’m watching while I’m relaxed. I was a lot more talkative throughout practice on Tuesday. It was pleasant to feel. It’s not quite the same as the old me. For one of the first occasions this season, they got to see the old me.
Gasso used diligence to build her programme.
Prior to setting records for home runs, attendance, and the never-ending quest for greatness, Oklahoma had a strong left-hander and a few clutch power hitters interspersed throughout a lineup full of quick slap batters.
When the Sooners faced McNeese State in a close 3-0 match on Saturday night, Gasso felt her squad outworked the opposition.
“McNeese performed a clinic for us,” Gasso remarked. “To be honest, their head coach really works his players hard, and that was one of the things that really changed me.” Their warm-ups would astound you, and they are incredibly prepared. It’s quite structured and ordered. It has a military-like appearance.
“They may not have the same level of all-around athlete as we do, but they play hard, and I felt like they outworked us.”
Gasso is determined that her Sooners accept the work as Oklahoma gets ready to return to the West Coast and play in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
OU doesn’t want to play its best softball in February since the season is lengthy. However, it doesn’t mean Gasso won’t be seeking general improvements to witness a blue-collar effort when the team takes on No. 25 Mississippi State on Friday.
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