Patty Gasso explains why keeping Bedlam rivalry alive was important

Oklahoma softball defeated Oklahoma State 11-3 in a run-rule victory on Wednesday. The Cowgirls led the Sooners 3-0 early, but OU wouldn’t let up down the stretch having scored the final 11 runs of the matchup.

The rivalry matchup had to be turned into a midweek, one-off game after the Sooners moved from the Big 12 to the SEC this past offseason. Still, the two programs were able to squeeze Bedlam into the schedule toward the end of the regular season. OU head coach Patty Gasso spoke to the importance the game provides not only for the fans — but her players as well.

“It’s good for the fans, they love it, going to be a great crowd,” Gasso said during her midweek press conference before the victory. “It’s going to be great competition, our players need to feel that. It’s such a new group that I’m anxious to see what they look like in this environment. They play hard, concentrate well. But this is another level that I’m just really anxious to see how they handle the noise, the crowd.”

Gasso was correct in assuming a strong turnout from fans on both sides of the ticket. There was a record 9,259 fans who showed up to Devon Park on Wednesday night.

However, with the two teams being in seperate conferences, the likelihood of there being a three-game series in the near future seems unlikely. Home-and-home on-offs, or even neutral site series could be ways to work around that. For now, Gasso and her group have a singular focus as the postseason draws closer.

“Quite honestly, I have not even thought that far,” Gasso said. “It would be nice to play one, for sure, I like the idea of the Hall of Fame (Oklahoma City) because you can bring in so many fans. But I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest with you.”

The victory over their bitter rival improved the Sooners to 35-3 overall, including a 9-3 record against SEC competition. Wednesday’s victory may have been the final midweek matchup of the regular season for the Sooners, but Oklahoma still has four more series to play before the SEC Tournament — including a series against Texas at home.

Up next for OU is a three-game set against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa beginning on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network.