WATCH: Brent Venables throws out first pitch as Oklahoma softball claims Big 12 title
Brent Venables was all smiles Friday night at the Sooners softball game against Oklahoma State. The Oklahoma football coach was invited to throw out the first pitch with OU one win away from clinching its 10th consecutive regular season Big 12 softball title.
He got the evening started with an underhand toss that elicited cheers from the crowd. After that, he joined arms with the Sooners players in a pregame circle as they swayed back and forth chanting “O-U!”
The Sooners went on to defeat the Cowgirls in a 6-0 shutout to lay claim to the conference championship in dominant fashion. Hope Trautwein pitched 5.1 scoreless innings to earn the win, improving her season record to a perfect 14-0. She gave up just three hits and struck out four in the victory.
Oklahoma (47-1, 16-1 Big 12) did most of its damage during the fifth inning, where it scored five of its six runs. Catcher Kenzie Hansen delivered a three-RBI double in the inning that proved to be the biggest offensive play of the day. Later on on the fifth inning, shortstop Grace Lyons capped things off with a solo home run to give the Sooners the 6-0 advantage.
Top 10
- 1New
Lamont Butler
Injury update on Kentucky star
- 2Hot
DeMarco Murray
PSU eyeing OU assistant
- 3
Seven QBs in first 3 rounds
New NFL mock draft
- 4Trending
Bracketology
Big movement after turbulent week
- 5
Paul Finebaum
CFB struggle to catch NFL
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
The victory not only made Oklahoma the 2022 Big 12 softball champions, but also gave them the series victory against Oklahoma State. The Sooners previously defeated the Cowgirls by a score of 7-1 in the series opener on Thursday, and will get a chance to close with a sweep in Saturday’s closing game at 4 p.m. CT. Oklahoma State dropped to 14-3 in Big 12 play with the loss, and has locked up the two seed in the conference tournament, set to begin Thursday.
The Big 12 championship is the 14th in program history for the Sooners, all of which have come under head coach Patty Gasso. After leading the Sooners to the Women’s College World Series title in 2021, she has them as they favorite to repeat this season.
Meanwhile, Brent Venables just wrapped up his first spring as the Oklahoma football coach, and is now awaiting the start of fall camp. He’ll make his head coaching debut on Sept. 3, when the Sooners open up 2022 against UTEP.
Until then, Gasso and the Sooners softball team will give him and OU fans plenty to cheer for.