It was Rylie Boone who singled with no outs when OU trailed Texas by two, before Jayda tied it.
It was Boone who singled yesterday before Haley Lee hit a grand slam.
It was Rylie Boone who singled today when OU was down three before Kinzie Hansen tied it.
Notice a trend?
HUGE props to Alex Storako.
Before tonight, her last start was way back on May 21st.
She gave you exactly what was needed. Four solid innings with just one run to pave the way for Jordy Bahl.
Incredible ending to an incredible career for Storako. 🫡
I’m really hoping OU comes out in the Ninja formation on the first offensive play of the bowl game.
It would be the perfect tribute to Mike Leach. And then imagine if it were to go for a big play.
That was Kelly Maxwell’s finest moment at OU. Maybe her entire career.
Just an incredible performance on a massive stage. She wasn’t just good, she was dominant.
Don’t doubt Maxwell moving forward.
Biggest defensive moment for the program since..?
In 5, 10, 20 years and beyond, when you hear “the goal line stand” you’ll instantly think of Saturday in the Cotton Bowl.
OU just added, arguably, the best defensive player in the transfer portal. Dasan McCullough has elite size, athleticism and most importantly a proven track record.
It cannot be overstated how big of an addition he is for next year’s defense.
A message was sent across college softball today. And it’s simple:
When OU is dialed in, nobody can touch this team. Not even an elite UCLA team.
Just when you thought the gap might be closing, Patty Gasso’s team showed it’s still their sport. ELITE program.
The last game at Marita Hynes Field was the greatest it’s ever seen.
• Down 3 runs with one strike left
• Set all-time winning streak record
• WCWS berth
• Patty Gasso’s birthday
The best sendoff possible.
Caleb Williams is the hero and will forever be the story (as he should). But Kennedy Brooks’ day shouldn’t be forgotten. His 217 yards made it where a freshman QB didn’t have to throw it every down to win. OU rode the run game in the second half. He was today’s MVP.
Eight days ago OU lost to Oklahoma State to cap off a highly disappointed year that didn’t even include a berth in the Big 12 Title game.
Tonight, there’s more excitement in the program than there’s been in a long time.
THAT’S how big the Brent Venables is.
Jordy Bahl has scored more runs herself, than runs given up in the circle all WCWS.
She’s pitched 19.2 innings without giving up one run.
Elite doesn’t even begin to describe how special Jordy is.
OU’s starting pitcher tonight hadn’t started a game in a month. The next pitcher had barely seen in the circle the past two months.
But they STILL found a way to win.
The best version of Oklahoma Softball showed up right when it needed it. Incredible.
To quickly summarize OU softball’s three-game series at Texas Tech
Total runs: OU 43 Texas Tech 0
OU had 17 home runs in just 15 innings.
Texas Tech had three hits.
OU had more no-hitters (1) than Texas Tech did runs (0)
36-0 start. Best in college softball history.
Blake Bell remains both an incredible and fascinating story.
Was asked to switch from QB to tight end the year after beating both Notre Dame and Oklahoma State on the road.
And now he’s a 8-year NFL vet with two rings. One of the all-time favorites with the OU fan base.
Lincoln Riley was asked on the Sooner Radio Network pregame show if the All-Big 12 snubs are a motivating factor for today:
“Yeah...yeah. Looking at those teams it’s amazing we were able to win a game.”
Oh boy.
A tip of the cap to NiJaree Canady.
Two incredible games against her and Stanford.
That won’t be the last time OU faces Canady in OKC before her career is over. And it will be epic again.
Jordy Bahl just made her second-career start against the No. 3 team in the country and carved up UCLA for 14 strikeouts.
We don’t have to wait until “someday”
for Bahl to be a star. She already is.
• School record three Pick-6’s
• No. 2 in FBS with 6 INT’s
• Most INT return yards in CFB.
Billy Bowman isn’t just having a great year, he’s having the best season by an OU defensive back in over a decade.
It’s shame he’s not at least a Thorpe Award semi-finalist.
I try not to judge someone off one bad moment, but this one was too big to ignore.
Texas can change all the assistants it wants, but I knew from this moment Tom Herman wasn’t the guy. They’re delaying the inevitable.
Jayden Gibson’s touchdown catch was the No. 4 play of the day on College Football Final.
He gave us a glimpse yesterday of what he’s capable of. And it’s really exciting.
Kelly Maxwell struggled early, but she really settled in and gave OU a chance to win.
No runs allowed In her final 5 frames and just one hit. Incredibly impressed with how Maxwell responded today.
HUGE!
Playing good defense is hard enough, but it’s really impressive when you do it without any help whatsoever from your offense for three quarters.
OU’s defense won the game.
Transfer portal wide receiver from Texas, Brenen Thompson, just joined our pregame show. His response when I asked how OU sits in his recruitment:
“Pretty good.”
Jayden Gibson may only have six catches on the year, but you can still make a highlight reel from his first five games.
Totally different player from a year ago.
I still can’t get over the fact that, whatever happens during the rest of Gavin Freeman’s career, we’ll always remember the first time he touched the ball.
Just incredible.
Recruiting momentum is a real thing and it feels like OU has it back after a massive recruiting weekend. A strong close to the 2023 class is incoming. 📈
71-straight. The longest winning streak in college softball history is over but, in my opinion, will never be touched.
Hat tip to
@OU_Softball
for an incredible run!
Remember that whole thing where OU, long-term, is going to be better without Lincoln Riley?
The only thing wrong with it is the “long-term” part. If you get Brent Venables AND Jeff Lebby, OU will be much better today than it was eight days ago.
Patty Gasso has now won 10-consecutive Big 12 titles. Four national championships have come in that time span, with a great chance at a fifth this year.
When you’re conducting your Mount Rushmore of best Big 12 coaches, just put Gasso’s name up first.
No. 2 FSU - out
No. 6 Alabama - out
No. 11 Tennessee - out
No. 13 Washington - on the brink
Let that be a reminder of how impressive of a weekend it was for OU softball without Jordy Bahl. Nothing is a given in postseason. OU was 3-0 without their ace
This team is just fine.
Good for Josh Heupel. Not just for bringing Tennessee back, but for the road it took to get there after the OU stint.
Had to go to Utah State, then Mizzou and got his first HC gig. Took advantage and got to Knoxville. And now he has the biggest win for the Vols in 20+ years.
An all-time winning streak and a national title (amongst many other things) still wasn’t ESPY worthy, apparently.
Even Mike White thinks OU softball got snubbed.
It’s been two years and the importance of having Bob Stoops around at that time cannot be overstated.
He restored confidence, he recruited guys like Gentry Williams and Gavin Sawchuk and he led OU to its best performance of the year.
Nobody will forget when he stepped up.
Two years ago today: Bob Stoops took over as interim head coach and calmed the entire fanbase.
“This is just a little bump in the road. There's not one guy, one person in the history of this program that's bigger than the program, coach Switzer, myself, or Lincoln Riley.”
OU is leaving a conference where only one other team had a stadium with a capacity over 61,000.
OU is joining a conference where it’s 86,000-plus seat stadium is going to rank NINTH in capacity.
So wild. So completely awesome.
So many storylines from yesterday, but don’t take for granted Gavin Sawchuk’s day.
107 yards on just 14 carries and a TD. He really helped carry the offense in the second half when OU needed it.
He’s the running back we thought he was before the season.
There’s a lot of season left, but there’s a real chance this OU team can go down as the best college softball team in history.
Seriously.
24-0 with 20 of those games ending in a run-rule. Even elite teams have off-days. It’s hard to find a day where this team wasn’t dominant.
I know I speak for all OU football recruiting fans on this one: It feels glorious to finally be on the right side of a crazy 5-Star recruitment.
HUGE get and a huge statement for Brent Venables and staff. This is now a Top 5 class.
UNBELIEVABLE!
OU hoops had its fair share of disappointing moments this year. But when the season seemed at its lowest, this team ripped off 4-straight wins and beat the defending national champs. That says a lot.
Put them in The Dance.
It’s time to write thank you letters to the city of Longview,Texas.
Malcolm Kelly. Trent Williams. And now the No. 1 RB in the 2024 class, Taylor Tatum.
• 6th title in 10 years
• Back-to-back-to-back champs
• 4 of the Top 5 all-time winning streaks
• 53-game active win streak
• 4-straight championship series appearances
There’s a dynasty in Norman with no end in sight.
There’s four coaches at OU that are arguably the best in America at their respective sport.
• Patty Gasso (Duh)
• KJ Kindler (6 titles in past 9 years)
• Mark Williams (9 titles in 23 years)
• Ryan Hybl (1 national title and 11-straight NCAA Championship appearances
Your yearly reminder this guy scored 9 touchdowns against Texas from 2000-2002.
UT as a team only scored 5 during that span.
Q still gives ‘Horns fans nightmares.
As odd as it might be to say I hope the OU offense doesn’t overshadow what Alex Storako did today.
A complete game shutout over the No. 1 team in the country. She was incredible. Probably even one of the best starts in her career.
Down but never out. It’s been a theme for MANY years now with OU softball.
What a performance by Kelly Maxwell. What a two-out hit by Rylie Boone.
What a win! 56-straight.
Seriously, how can you not be super jacked up about Porter Moser?
He literally just fist pumped in front of the student section after a Top 15 win. He gets it.
OU is now 8-0 against SEC teams this year. 73-5 is the combined score in those games.
More wins than runs given up.
It won’t be OU that needs to adjust to the SEC, the SEC will need to adjust to OU. Good luck.
Drake Stoops has 22 catches for 298 yards and four TD’s the last two games.
The last OU wide receivers who’ve had a comparable two-game stretch?
CeeDee in ‘19 - 13-302-3TD
Hollywood in ‘18 - 14-263-4TD
Stoops is producing like two 1st rounders during their best OU season.
What an incredible run for Jennie Baranczyk and OU women’s hoops. From a 7-5 record before Christmas to outright Big 12 champs with one game still left. Incredible!
Give Jennie Big 12 Coach of the Year!
Two weeks ago the conversation about the ‘22 class for OU centered around damage control and making sure it wasn’t a complete disaster. Now, hours before NSD, it’s about how it’s easily a Top 10 class.
You don’t need to wait until September to see the pay off of Brent Venables.