OU softball weekend: Final Big 12 season is here

It’s going to be strange to see the No. 2 next to the name of OU softball, but March rankings, obviously, don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

It will be about, however, is watching how the Sooners attempt to get back on track after their first loss in 72 games.

First impression? A good one with a 9-0 run-rule vs. Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday night. But here comes the Big 12.

It begins with a three-game set at Love’s Field vs. Iowa State.

“Iowa State always gives us fits,” OU head coach Patty Gasso said. “They’ve got good pitchers. They’re coached well. They hit the ball notoriously pretty hard. They always give us good run for our money. It’s the start of our last Big 12 Conference play. I know these guys will be fired up for that. So we’ll have a battle this weekend, no question.”

Any chance to play at Love’s is necessary right now. Look, there are zero complaints about the facility. But it’s just a statement of fact of how tough it is to adjust on a field you have had literally no time preparing on when you’re the home team.

The emotion of opening weekend is gone. It is back to work. OU will adjust and be just fine, history has shown that.

And perhaps getting Big 12 play underway will get the focus of everybody back. 

“We’re super excited,” senior Alynah Torres said. “I think kind of dialing down to one game a day’s going to be really helpful just for us to kind of figure out what we’re doing day-in, day-out, and we can lock in on that one game. Especially for me being a senior, I’m kind of soaking it in. This is my last first start of conference. I’m just ready to have fun, play with my teammates and the best is the best.”

Learning at Love’s

Base it off opening weekend? Love’s Field is a hitter’s ballpark. The ball was flying out like crazy last weekend. And it happened against OU as well. The pitching staff had a dent put in it.

Again, we’re all learning as we go here.

“I’d say it plays really good for hitters,” first baseman Cydney Sanders said. “Wind’s blowing, yes. You can touch the ball it’ll fly. It’s amazing.”

Torres echoed those sentiments.

“It’s definitely a hitter’s game over there,” she said. “We’re still getting used to the field. It’s awesome, it’s beautiful. But I would say it’s definitely in our favor, so it’s a good thing.”

OU 9, Texas A&M-Commerce 0 (5)

And the winning streak is one. OK, joking, but you get the idea. It was back to work for the Sooners. And funny enough, it was the freshmen that carried the day.

It didn’t need to be the seniors when Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering are doing what they’re doing, leading to an early night.

The duo was responsible for all five RBIs for OU in the bottom of the first. That’s one way to respond after your first loss in more than 12 months.

Pickering had a two-run double, and then Parker brought everybody home with a three-run home run. Pickering drove in three runs.

The pitching combo of Kierston Deal and Paytn Monticelli wrapped it up. Deal pitched the first three innings with five strikeouts. Then Monticelli the last two frames, adding three strikeouts.

Final word

“For us? We have to go back to this is our house, truly. Protect this house. Understand the makings of this house. Have to handle the crowd, handle the outfield wall, handle the wind. There were a lot of elements we learned in a short period of time that they’re very good at adjusting. I’m not worried about this part. We got it out of the way, and now we know what to do.” – Gasso