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Best of OU head coach Patty Gasso: Here comes the SEC

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•03/06/25•

BPrzybylo

OK, time for Part II of the OU softball season. The non-conference, for the most part, is out the door. Here comes the gauntlet.

Here comes what everybody, including Patty Gasso, has been waiting for. It’s time for the SEC. One elite weekend series after another.

And it all starts with South Carolina coming to Love’s Field. Who knew the Gamecocks would be 20-0 and the only other undefeated team in the country outside of OU?

But here we are.

The best of the best from Gasso as the Sooners and Gamecocks get ready, a combined 39-0.

South Carolina? Quincee Lilio?

“Our numbers are really similar, eerily similar. They had a big weekend and they got just an all around good game, Good hitters, good defense. Our numbers, like I said, are very similar. They’re well coached. They’ve got good energy in the way of Q. I’m really happy for her. I really enjoyed Q a lot here and I was so grateful for her loyalty to the program. I wasn’t surprised that she was ready to do this. When COVID came, there was a pocket full of athletes that were just at the wrong place, wrong time. She was one of them. She had to play behind some of the best players that have ever played in this program. She was always hustling and always practicing hard. I’m really happy for her. I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to and she wanted it to, but as long as she’s getting what she wants out of her career, that’s important.

What has impressed the most with the freshmen?

“I think they understand that they’re pretty talented and there’s just a little bit of frustration in  trying to learn how fast we work. So I think that was the biggest challenge for them. Once they kind of caught on to that then it was about strength – how much stronger they need to be if they want to hit the ball hard or hit it out. So that came to them as well. So you’re just seeing these milestones come along that have changed our team. The freshmen are a big part of that. They all have big roles in it- from pitching staff and Audrey Lowry and her improvement and to Gabbie Garcia to Tia Milloy, they all have something that they’ve done that has gotten them better. Even if they’re not in the starting lineup, they all have significantly improved enough that I’m not afraid to put them in a game at any time.”

Pitching staff ready for the grind coming?

“Their numbers are showing it. Our wins, we’re undefeated. We’ve been doing this for a while. Jen Rocha has been a master of who and when, and that’s been really important. Giving different looks and at the right time can get us three quick outs because you’re not ready for it. We do have those options, and all have been working out well, even Paytn can come in and get us one out. It shows something different. Now you don’t know what is coming next. I like it. Since the end of the World Series this past season, it has really taught us it is something we can use and be successful with.”

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