2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team explained
| Sport: | softball |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Team: | Oklahoma Sooners |
| Conference: | Big 12 Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 12 |
| Record: | 61–1 |
| Conf Record: | 18–0 |
| Head Coach: | Patty Gasso |
| Hc Year: | 29th |
| Stadium: | OU Softball Complex |
| Champion: | National Champion
NCAA Norman Super Regional champion
NCAA Norman Regional champion
Big 12 regular season and tournament champion |
The 2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Sooners were led by Patty Gasso in her twenty-ninth season, and played their home games at OU Softball Complex. They competed in the Big 12 Conference, where they finished with a 61–1 record, including 18–0 in conference play. The Sooners only loss on the season was during an early season tournament in Waco, Texas to the Baylor Bears, 3–4.
The Sooners won the 2023 Big 12 Tournament, and qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament. They advanced to the 2023 Women's College World Series, where they defeated Florida State in two games to win their seventh championship in program history, and third consecutive championship. They became the first team to three-peat since UCLA from 1988 to 1990.[1] [2] The season was also highlighted by setting an NCAA Division I softball-record 53-game winning streak.[3]
Previous season
The Sooners finished the 2022 season 59–3 overall, and 17–1 in the Big 12, finishing in first place in their conference. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Sooners received an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I softball tournament, where they were the No. 1 overall seed. During the NCAA tournament they defeated Texas A&M in the regional finals and UCF in the super regionals. They won the 2022 Women's College World Series over Texas.[4]
Offseason
Departures
Oklahoma outgoing transfers| + | Player | Position | Height | Year | New team | Ref |
|---|
| Turiya Coleman | Utility | 5'7" | Freshman | Houston | [5] |
| Mackenzie Donihoo | Infielder | 5'3" | Junior | Tennessee | [6] | |
Additions
Oklahoma incoming transfers| + | Player | Position | Height | Year | Previous team | Ref |
|---|
| Alex Storako | Pitcher | 5'11" | Redshirt senior | Michigan | [7] |
| Haley Lee | Utility | 5'7" | Redshirt senior | Texas A&M |
| Cydney Sanders | Infielder | 5'9" | Sophomore | Arizona State |
| Alynah Torres | Utility | 5'9" | Senior | Arizona State | |
Preseason
Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the preseason polls by NFCA/USA Today, ESPN.com/USA Softball, D1Softball and Softball America.[8] [9] [10] [11]
Award watch lists
Roster and personnel
| 2023 Oklahoma Sooners roster |
|---|
| | Pitchers- 8 – Alex Storako – Redshirt Senior
- 11 – Kierston Deal – Freshman
- 19 – Nicole May – Junior
- 85 – SJ Geurin – Freshman
- 98 – Jordy Bahl – Sophomore
Catchers
Outfielders
- 0 – Rylie Boone – Senior
- 24 – Jayda Coleman – Junior
- 27 – Hannah Coor – Sophomore
| | Infielders
Utility
- 7 – Jocelyn Erickson – Freshman
- 17 – Sophia Nugent – Sophomore
- 21 – Grace Green – Redshirt Senior
- 33 – Alyssa Brito – Junior
- 40 – Alynah Torres – Senior
- 43 – Quincee Lilio – Redshirt Freshman
- 45 – Haley Lee – Redshirt Senior
| |
| Reference:[13] | |
| 2023 Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff |
|---|
- Patty Gasso – Head coach
- Jennifer Rocha – Assistant head coach
- JT Gasso – Assistant coach
- Hannah Sparks – Volunteer assistant
- Ryan Wondrasek – Director of player development
- Hope Trautwein – Graduate assistant
- Lauren Foster – Graduate assistant
|
| Reference:[14] | |
Schedule
| 2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball game log |
|---|
| Regular season (49–1) |
|---|
| February (13–1) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | Big 12
Record |
|---|
| February 9 | vs. No. 16 Duke
Mark Campbell Invitational | No. 1 | | 4–0 | Bahl (1–0) | Davidson (0–1) | — | 800 | 1–0 | – | | February 9 | vs. Liberty
Mark Campbell Invitational | No. 1 | Bill Barber Park | 1–0 (8) | May (1–0) | Keeney (0–1) | — | 500 | 2–0 | – | | February 10 | vs. No. 17 Stanford
Mark Campbell Invitational | No. 1 | Bill Barber Park | 10–1 (6) | Storako (1–0) | Krause (0–1) | — | 1,000 | 3–0 | – | | February 11 | vs. No. 14 Washington
Mark Campbell Invitational | No. 1 | Bill Barber Park | 5–4 | Bahl (2–0) | Lopez (0–1) | May (1) | 1,000 | 4–0 | – | | February 12 | vs. San Jose State
Mark Campbell Invitational | No. 1 | Bill Barber Park | 9–0 (5) | Deal (1–0) | Steffany (0–2) | — | 500 | 5–0 | – | | February 17 | | No. 1 | | 10–0 (5) | Bahl (3–0) | Burton (0–3) | — | — | 6–0 | – | | February 18 | | No. 1 | Getterman Stadium | 22–0 (5) | Storako (2–0) | Hannabas (1–2) | — | 1,240 | 7–0 | – | | February 18 | | No. 1 | Getterman Stadium | 9–0 (5) | May (2–0) | Grete (1–3) | — | 1,209 | 8–0 | – | | February 19 | | No. 1 | Getterman Stadium | 3–4 | Orme (3–1) | Bahl (3–1) | Binford (1) | 1,271 | 8–1 | – | | February 24 | | No. 2 | | 8–0 (5) | Storako (3–0) | Miranda (2–2) | — | 2,000 | 9–1 | – | | February 24 | | No. 2 | Big League Dreams Complex | 8–0 (5) | May (3–0) | Preston (2–1) | — | 2,000 | 10–1 | – | | February 25 | | No. 2 | Big League Dreams Complex | 10–3 | Bahl (4–1) | Sandez (4–1) | — | 1,500 | 11–1 | – | | February 25 | | No. 2 | Big League Dreams Complex | 10–1 (5) | Deal (2–0) | Perez (1–7) | — | 2,000 | 12–1 | – | | February 26 | | No. 2 | Big League Dreams Complex | 14–0 (5) | Storako (4–0) | Faraimo (9–1) | — | — | 13–1 | – | |
|
| March (18–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | Big 12
Record |
|---|
| March 3 | | No. 1 | | 5–0 | May (4–0) | Toniolo (0–7) | — | 1,944 | 14–1 | – | | March 3 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 18–0 (5) | Storako (5–0) | Schoonover (6–1) | — | 1,944 | 15–1 | – | | March 4 | No. 17 Kentucky | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 7–1 | Bahl (5–1) | Lacatena (3–1) | — | 1,800 | 16–1 | – | | March 4 | UIC | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 9–0 (5) | May (5–0) | Ortiz (0–1) | — | 1,955 | 17–1 | – | | March 10 | | No. 1 | | 13-0 (5) | Bahl (6–1) | Comeaux (3–1) | — | 278 | 18–1 | – | | March 10 | | No. 1 | Nusz Park | 7–0 | May (6–0) | Maroon (7–1) | — | 1,056 | 19–1 | – | | March 11 | at Mississippi State | No. 1 | Nusz Park | 9-3 | Storako (6–0) | Wesley (4–3) | — | 1,284 | 20–1 | – | | March 13 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 8–0 (5) | May (7–0) | Kniesche (8–3) | — | 1,706 | 21–1 | – | | March 14 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 5–4 | Storako (7–0) | DuBois (2–2) | Bahl (1) | 1,879 | 22–1 | – | | March 17 | | No. 1 | | 9–1 (5) | Storako (8–0) | Finch (1–1) | — | 4,627 | 23–1 | – | | March 17 | | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 2–1 | May (8–0) | Boyd (2–3) | — | 4,627 | 24–1 | – | | March 18 | vs. Weber State | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 16–0 (5) | Storako (9–0) | Johnson (5–9) | — | 5,185 | 25–1 | – | | March 18 | | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 14–0 (5) | Bahl (7–1) | Widra (7–1) | — | 5,185 | 26–1 | – | | March 19 | vs. No. 19 Auburn | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 7–1 | Storako (10–0) | Penta (11–4) | — | 4,172 | 27–1 | – | | March 24 | | No. 1 | | 3–0 | Storako (11–0) | Spelhaug (1–4) | — | 1,074 | 28–1 | 1–0 | | March 25 | at Iowa State | No. 1 | Cyclone Sports Complex | 13–3 (5) | May (9–0) | Swain (3–5) | — | 1,715 | 29–1 | 2–0 | | March 25 | at Iowa State | No. 1 | Cyclone Sports Complex | 10–0 (5) | Bahl (8–1) | Johnson (1–3) | — | 1,715 | 30–1 | 3–0 | | March 31 | | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 8–1 | Bahl (9–1) | Czech (7–3) | — | 8,930 | 31–1 | 4–0 | |
|
| April (14–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | Big 12
Record |
|---|
| April 1 | No. 9 Texas | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 4–3 | Bahl (10–1) | Gutierrez (10–2) | — | 1,976 | 32–1 | 5–0 | | April 2 | No. 9 Texas | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 10–2 (6) | May (10–0) | Morgan (10–2) | — | 1,868 | 33–1 | 6–0 | | April 6 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 3–0 | Storako (12–0) | Kuehl (1–1) | — | 1,864 | 34–1 | 7–0 | | April 7 | Texas Tech | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 6–0 | Bahl (11–1) | Hoover (14–1) | — | 1,958 | 35–1 | 8–0 | | April 8 | Texas Tech | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 7–0 | May (11–0) | Fritz (8–4) | — | 1,973 | 36–1 | 9–0 | | April 11 | | No. 1 | | 3–0 | Bahl (12–1) | Berzon (11–3) | — | 3,073 | 37–1 | – | | April 15 | | No. 1 | | 10–1 (5) | Storako (13–0) | Felder (1–1) | — | 1,069 | 38–1 | – | | April 15 | | No. 1 | Miami Softball Stadium | 13–1 (6) | May (12–0) | Pratt (18–10) | — | 1,069 | 39–1 | – | | April 21 | | No. 1 | Getterman Stadium | 7–0 | Bahl (13–1) | Orme (14–6) | — | 1,250 | 40–1 | 10–0 | | April 22 | at No. 16 Baylor | No. 1 | Getterman Stadium | 4–0 | Storako (14–0) | West (6–2) | Bahl (2) | 1,250 | 41–1 | 11–0 | | April 22 | at No. 16 Baylor | No. 1 | Getterman Stadium | 2–0 | May (13–0) | Orme (14–7) | — | 1,250 | 42–1 | 12–0 | | April 25 | | No. 1 | | Cancelled[15] | | April 28 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 8–0 (5) | Bahl (14–1) | Hamilton (9–8) | — | 1,762 | 43–1 | 13–0 | | April 29 | Kansas | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 14–0 (5) | May (14–0) | Ludwig (3–7) | — | 1,951 | 44–1 | 14–0 | | April 30 | Kansas | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 8–2 | Storako (15–0) | Hamilton (9–9) | — | — | 45–1 | 15–0 | |
|
| May (4–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | Big 12
Record |
|---|
| May 2 | | No. 1 | | 6–0 | May (15–0) | Nash (9–13) | Storako (1) | 1,000 | 46–1 | – | | May 5 | | No. 1 | | 8–3 | Bahl (15–1) | Maxwell (14–4) | — | 1,602 | 47–1 | 16–0 | | May 6 | at No. 7 Oklahoma State | No. 1 | Cowgirl Stadium | 4–2 | Deal (3–0) | Maxwell (14–5) | — | 1,753 | 48–1 | 17–0 | | May 7 | at No. 7 Oklahoma State | No. 1 | Cowgirl Stadium | 5–1 | Storako (16–0) | Kilfoyl (12–5) | — | 1,565 | 49–1 | 18–0 | |
|
| Post-season (12-0) |
|---|
| (2–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | B12T
Record |
|---|
| May 12 | Iowa State | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 9–0 (5) | Storako (17–0) | Swain (5–9) | — | 3,739 | 50–1 | 1–0 | | May 13 | No. 10 Texas | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 6–1 | May (16–0) | Gutierrez (12–5) | Bahl (3) | 4,684 | 51–1 | 2–0 | |
|
| (3–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/Stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | Regional
Record |
|---|
| May 19 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 11–0 (5) | May (17–0) | Apsel (10–9) | — | 1,925 | 52–1 | 1–0 | | May 20 | vs. Missouri | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 11–0 (6) | Bahl (16–1) | Krings (13–12) | — | 1,977 | 53–1 | 2–0 | | May 21 | vs. California | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 16–3 (5) | Storako (18–0) | Archer (10–10) | — | 1,931 | 54–1 | 3–0 | |
|
| (2–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/Stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | Super Reg.
Record |
|---|
| May 26 | | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 9–2 | Bahl (17–1) | Cagle (25–7) | — | 1,979 | 55–1 | 1–0 | | May 27 | vs. No. 10 Clemson | No. 1 | OU Softball Complex | 8–7 (9) | Bahl (18–1) | Cagle (25–8) | — | 2,127 | 56–1 | 2–0 | |
|
| (5–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall
Record | WCWS
Record |
|---|
| June 1 | | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 2–0 | Bahl (19–1) | Canady (16–2) | — | 12,379 | 57–1 | 1–0 | | June 3 | | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 9–0 (5) | Bahl (20–1) | Pickens (9–7) | — | 12,468 | 58–1 | 2–0 | | June 5 | vs. No. 7 Stanford | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 4–2 (9) | Bahl (21–1) | Canady (17–3) | — | 12,071 | 59–1 | 3–0 | | June 7 | | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 5–0 | Bahl (22–1) | Leonard (2–2) | — | 12,142 | 60–1 | 4–0 | | June 8 | vs. No. 3 Florida State | No. 1 | Hall of Fame Stadium | 3–1 | Storako (19–0) | Sandercock (28–4) | Bahl (4) | 12,195 | 61–1 | 5–0 | |
|
| |
Rankings
See main article: 2023 NCAA Division I softball rankings.
Notes and References
- Web site: Oklahoma softball joins elite company with title three-peat . ESPN.com . J.J. . Post . June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023.
- Web site: Oklahoma softball wins third consecutive national title: How Sooners cemented a dynasty . . Nicole . Auerbach . June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023.
- Web site: Oklahoma wins third straight WCWS title, extends record win streak to 53 . . Cliff . Brunt . June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023.
- Web site: Back to Back: Sooners Win Sixth National Title . soonersports.com . John . Rohde . June 9, 2022 . January 8, 2023.
- Web site: Report: Oklahoma Softball's Turiya Coleman Enters Transfer Portal . SI.com . Ryan . Chapman . July 3, 2022 . January 10, 2023.
- Web site: OU softball: Mackenzie Donihoo announces transfer to Tennessee . . Jason . Batacao . June 17, 2022 . January 10, 2023.
- Web site: Chasing third straight WCWS title, OU softball reloads via transfer portal. Here's how the 2023 roster looks. . . Ryan . Aber . July 29, 2022 . January 10, 2023.
- Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Preseason) . January 31, 2023 . January 23, 2023 . NFCA.org . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
- Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Preseason . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124160558/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls . dead . January 24, 2023 . teamusa.org . USA Softball . January 24, 2023 . January 24, 2023.
- Web site: 2023 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings . d1softball.com . D1Softball . January 17, 2023 . January 18, 2023.
- Web site: 2023 NCAA Division I Softball Top 25 . softballamerica.com . Baseball America Enterprises . January 24, 2023 . January 24, 2023.
- Web site: 2023 Softball Preseason National Honors . big12sports.com . January 25, 2023 . January 25, 2023.
- Web site: 2023 Softball Roster. soonersports.com . January 8, 2023.
- Web site: 2023 Softball Staff . soonersports.com . January 8, 2023.
- Web site: OU at Wichita State Canceled . soonersports.com . April 25, 2023 . April 25, 2023.
