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Oklahoma

Patty Gasso breaks down growth of Rylie Boone

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•02/20/24•

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Oklahoma outfielder Rylie Boone (0) celebrates after hitting a double to the wall in the fouth inning during the first game of the Women's College World Series finals between Oklahoma (OU) and Florida State at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Oklahoma softball is 9-0 through its first nine games of the season as the Sooners work to win another national championship under head coach Patty Gasso. Senior outfielder Rylie Boone has been a big part of the hot start for Oklahoma in 2024.

Boone is hitting .364 with a double and seven RBIs so far this season, carrying over the momentum from the way she ended last year when she was named to the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team.

As much as anything, Patty Gasso loves the mindset Rylie Boone has taken to the plate so far this year.

“She did such a great job going opposite [field],” Gasso said. “She’s a smart hitter. She’s a really smart hitter. She knows the game very well. She kind of knows what we need. Some of these guys this weekend, they were overswinging big. They were trying to hit home runs. They were swinging at pitches out of the zone. 

“Rylie Boone was in lock down mode. I felt her the whole weekend just in the moment, not trying to do anything more than she needed to do.”

Rylie Boone isn’t necessarily a power hitter as she has only five home runs through four-plus years at Oklahoma thus far. However, she does have a little more pop than she gets credit for, according to Gasso.

When Sooners opponents play in against her, Boone can make them pay.

“She’s got a lot of weapons, and I think people think she’s a short game, like a slapper. So people play her in a little bit,” Gasso said. “And that’s one thing I love about her is she can mix you up a little bit and make you feel like she’s going to do something and then change.”

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Oklahoma went unbeaten over the weekend in the Cowgirl Challenge, finishing with a perfect 5-0 record.

During those five games, Boone had six RBIs and a triple. She was one of the top performers of the weekend, in Gasso’s mind.

“She easily could’ve been an MVP of that weekend,” Gasso said.

Oklahoma will return to action on Friday, facing Mississippi State in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in California. The Sooners enter the matchup with a 62-game winning streak, dating back to the 2023 season.

Oklahoma is also set to face Wisconsin, San Diego State, Seattle and Loyola Marymount this weekend.

Oklahoma is well on its way to having another special season in 2024. Rylie Boone is once again a big reason why.