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Slowing down the key for OU freshman Audrey Lowry

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/16/25•

BPrzybylo

Audrey Lowry
OU pitcher Audrey Lowry. (Bryan Terry - Imagn Images)

After a couple of rough outings from OU freshman pitcher Audrey Lowry, head coach Patty Gasso was asked if an early-season injury was the culprit.

Gasso didn’t flinch, nope, that’s not it. It was nerves, pure nerves. Being put in positions simply not used to at that point in her career, Lowry had to go through the baptism by fire.

It goes to show Gasso’s philosophy. Build the staff in March and April because you’re going to need everybody in May.

And in May? Lowry has been a different pitcher.

“What’s really great about this team is they all want to help,” Gasso said. “As frustrated as they are, maybe that they’re not getting the pitching time, but they still want to help. ‘However I can help.’ And Audrey just took that upon herself with that mentality. And if you give me two innings, I’m good. But I’m going to show you that you need to give me more.

“This settling of her heart rate and her breathing has really allowed her to grow in a way that we knew she was capable of. And I think that’s what I’m most proud of. A lot of these athletes have learned how to settle themselves and get really locked into what they’re doing.”

That was on full display last week at the SEC Tournament. After Arkansas had roughed up OU pitching in the first four innings, here came Lowry. Three innings, no hits, allowing OU to get back into the fight.

The Sooners closed that show with the three-run walk-off home run by Gabbie Garcia to cap the largest comeback in SEC Tournament history.

The kind of confidence builder OU needed and Lowry can use going forward into the Norman Regional this weekend.

OU begins against Boston University at 5 p.m., immediately following the Cal-Omaha showdown. The winners meet 1 p.m. Saturday, with the regional championship to be decided Sunday.

“I think just the support that I have here, especially with the pitching staff and the other players, is just really amazing,” Lowry said. “And it goes with everyone, even if you’re in a slump, like there’s people who they’re gonna pick you up no matter what. So it’s just really having that support and working every day at practice collectively. It’s just, it’s really good.”

Lowry was coming off an April that was a disaster. Against really good offensive teams, but still, she had to show more than that.

Four runs against Mississippi State, four runs against Texas, eight runs combined in less than one inning pitched.

Gasso stuck with her. Pitching coach Jen Rocha kept plugging away. Lowry was going to turn that corner. Why not now?

And her reasoning for the improved performance is something you hear often from Gasso’s ladies. Breathe and be who you are. That’s enough. Slow down and unlock something special.

“Just focusing on playing free,” Lowry said. “Because if you’re not playing free — this counts for both pitchers and hitters — if you’re not playing free, then it’s just not going to happen and you’re not going to create momentum, so just having that confidence and trusting my teammates and trusting what I have and just put it all out there.”

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