NORMAN â Patty Gasso and the players acknowledged that Friday’s opening day at Love’s Field was an emotional and sometimes challenging one.
But on Saturday â their second day at their new stadium â the Sooners were more settled in. They opened their doubleheader with an 8-0 win over Louisiana before closing it with a 15-3 win over Liberty.
Two games, two run-rule victories.
While they’re still getting adjusted to their new surroundings, Saturday was clearly a step forward.
“I was kind of mesmerized by just how many people were watching and just being in the best stadium in the country is hard to wrap my brain around while I was playing,” Jayda Coleman said on Saturday. “But today was definitely more settled in.”
Gasso saw a difference in her team, too.
“I think we got comfortable in our new house a little more,” Gasso said. “Definitely felt a difference. They were confident. Just still feeling out a little bit. Like the wind flow is different. I mean thereâs some things weâre trying to learn about the stadium. But definitely the jitters were out and they played the way theyâre capable of.”
Here’s some takeaways and notes from the second round of games at Love’s Field:
â True sophomore Kierston Deal made her first circle appearance at Love’s Field and delivered a solid performance, allowing three hits and no runs with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Paytn Monticelli allowed two hits and no runs in relief.
Deal has played significantly better since the early struggles during opening weekend. In her last 16 innings, Deal has allowed just seven hits and no runs with 18 strikeouts.
“There was a lot of confidence there,” Gasso said. “It’s been really fun to watch her â well it wasn’t fun to watch her first appearance. But to see her response to it has been really incredible. It’s a good testimony to just believing in yourself. She got that back and she didn’t let it lay it all out on that first weekend. So I’ve been really happy with her performance. We need that right now. Our pitching staff got a little roughed up this weekend and we’ve got some work to do.”
â Alyssa Brito was sensational: three hits (all doubles), three runs and two RBIs.
â Gasso did a lot of tinkering with the lineup. The highlights? Riley Ludlam started at first base instead of Cydney Sanders, Rylie Boone batted first while usual leadoff hitter Jayda Coleman was in the nine spot.
“Weâre really into analytics,” Gasso said. “And it does make a difference. And they know that. Itâs not, âOh, Jayda all of a sudden youâre in the nine.â Itâs strategic. We set them up for success by what pitcher is on the mound and who â maybe I like balls that are up and itâs a down-ball pitcher. Maybe I should be lower in the lineup or maybe I make a switch. I mean itâs all about that. Or sometimes Iâm just trying to get some of these guys off their feet a little bit. Booneâs been hot. Booneâs been really hot.
“The nine-one is really a nice combo whether itâs these two or even Avery in the nine with Jayda. Sometimes Boone is one, Jayda two or Boone two, Jayda one. I mean we can do a lot of things but it does have a lot to do with lefty-righty matches versus who we think weâre gonna face. So Iâm really writing out three different lineups.”
â The Sooners’ lone home run came from Ludlam.
â Sanders returned to her usual place at first base and also got things started with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning. She finished the game with two hits, a run, a walk and a team-high four RBIs.
Sanders has now been walked nine times this season, the most on the team.
“She’s feeling a little bit of press from other people that are working out over at first and again, you can either say, ‘No, I have to, I have to, I’ve got to,’ or you say, ‘This is my spot. Give me the bat, let me show you,’” Gasso said. “That’s kind of what I felt from her today. She’s going to fight for that. We know how capable she is. She has shown it since her freshman year at Arizona State. She’s fighting and that’s good.”
â Friday’s game Miami (OH) was a bit of a struggle for Nicole May, who surrendered back-to-back home runs in the top of the first. There were no such issues against Liberty, as May surrendered one hit and no runs in three innings.
Karlie Keeney pitched one inning in relief against her former team. Kelly Maxwell closed it out in the fifth inning but did surrender back-to-back home runs.
â Ludlam snagged another start, this time as the designated player. Freshman Ella Parker, who has made 12 starts as the designated player, didn’t start either game but saw two at-bats.
â Tiare Jennings hit her sixth home run of the season in the second inning. That briefly tied Brito for the team lead in home runs, before Brito hit a two-run bomb in the fourth inning to reclaim the top spot.
â The Sooners recorded 17 hits, their most in a game this season. Of their 12 runs, eight of them came with two outs on the board.
â The Sooners are now 18-0 on the season and nine run-rule victories. They’ve won 71 games in a row dating back to last season.
â Up next: The Sooners conclude the OU Tournament against Louisiana at 12:30 p.m. Sunday (ESPN+).
