OU softball can breathe again; time to hit reset button

One game will not define the OU softball season. It never has in the past, and there’s no reason to believe that will change in 2024.

But it will allow everybody a chance to take a step back and breathe. Head coach Patty Gasso has been quick to say the pressure is a privilege. True, only the best of the best have to deal with that.

It’s also real pressure, though, a daily pressure to always be at your best. Nobody saw Louisiana coming to Norman and spoiling the opening of Love’s Field weekend and ending the winning streak, but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes.

“Again, we’re human,” said Gasso after the 7-5 setback Sunday. “To be on this streak that we are on was unbelievable, was ridiculously unbelievable. We take pride in that, but it’s over. We knew it was going to end. it was just when? Now we can just let it go and go back to work. And go back to who we are – blue-collar, hard-working, hustling, grinding type of team.”

The winning streak was a fun story until it wasn’t. Once you hit 40 and 50 and 60 games, even if you’re trying to block it out, it was there.

OU entered the OU Tournament on a 67-game winning streak and welcoming everybody to Love’s Field. There was a massive hiccup on Friday, needing a Kinzie Hansen walk-off to beat Miami (Ohio) 9-7. But then OU settled down, three straight run-rule victories.

So it’s 71 games, a feat that nobody knows when it will be matched again. Or if ever? Gasso warned everybody about a game like Sunday happening. Even mentioning two weeks ago how the team needed to pick up its level, get back to their standard.

The challenge is tough, obviously, vying for a fourth straight national championship. Everybody coming at you with their best shot, target getting bigger with each game. Even the veteran leaders were just a bit off vs. UL, for whatever reason.

It’s one heck of a special streak, though, setting records all along the way.

“We are human.” – #OU HC Patty Gasso

Opening statement after 7-5 (8) loss to UL to end 71-game winning streak. pic.twitter.com/UNAsnMLa6R

— Bob Przybylo (@BPrzybylo) March 3, 2024

The Streak

*A 578-72 run differential
*138 home runs
*46 wins over Power Five opponents
*40 shutouts
*33 run-rule victories
*28 wins over ranked opponents

“Just reset. Just keep grinding,” co-captain Tiare Jennings said. “This week, we’re going to grind like no other. Look in the mirror. Where do we want to get to? How can we personally get better? And go from there.”

It’s not like the Sooners have had issues bouncing back before. The streak, of course, began after a 4-3 loss to Baylor in a tournament in Waco last February. The lesson was learned there, clearly.

And now, just maybe, the team can be a bit free. The streak is a thing of the past. Love’s Field, and everything that came with the weekend, can now be checked off.

It’s an amazing facility, and it was an electric atmosphere all weekend. A reported attendance of 13,350 over the three days. Unheard of, but now? It’s OU’s reality. Something it will have to deal with every series.

“Just the emotions and the wow factor we’re all feeling,” Gasso said. “The fans coming – it’s like the World Series. It’s what it feels like. I don’t know that we knew what to expect. We know now and ready to regroup. We need mental and physical rest.”

Players mentioned almost feeling like a road environment for the simple fact the team had never practiced on Love’s. Their first time was in front of the world 2 p.m. Friday. Everybody is still learning the ins and outs.

It’ll be a process. One that most likely won’t take long for OU to figure out and be rolling once again. The Sooners are back at home all this week, including beginning Big 12 play against Iowa State.

Still No. 1 in the country, still impressive at 18-1, but last weekend was the wake-up call. As Gasso said, it’s time to be OU once again.

“And we know how to come back, I know,” Gasso said. “There’s too much pride on this team to mope around. We’re gonna come back and be stronger. We’ve shown that and we’re made like that.”