2021 Oklahoma Sooners softball team

2021 Oklahoma Sooners softball
National Champion Big 12 Tournament champion Big 12 regular season champion
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Record	56–4 (16–1 Big 12)
Head coach	Patty Gasso (27th season)
Home stadium	OU Softball Complex

2021 Big 12 Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 1 Oklahoma  ‍†‍‡‍^y	16	–	1		.941			56	–	4		.933
No. 7 Oklahoma State  ‍‍‍^y	15	–	3		.833			48	–	12		.800
No. 11 Texas  ‍‍‍^y	12	–	6		.667			43	–	14		.754
Baylor  ‍‍‍^y	8	–	9		.471			27	–	23		.540
Iowa State  ‍‍‍^y	6	–	12		.333			34	–	23		.596
Texas Tech  ‍‍‍	3	–	15		.167			21	–	26		.447
Kansas  ‍‍‍	2	–	16		.111			22	–	26		.458
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 10, 2021[1] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

The 2021 Oklahoma Sooners softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Sooners were led by Patty Gasso in her twenty-seventh season, and played their home games at OU Softball Complex. They competed in the Big 12 Conference, where they finished the season with a 56–4 record, including 16–1 in conference play.

The Sooners won the 2021 Big 12 Tournament, and qualified for the 2021 NCAA Division I softball tournament. They advanced to the 2021 Women's College World Series, where they defeated Florida State in three games to win their fifth championship in program history.[2] The Sooners homered in 58 of their 60 games, including 45 multi-home run games, and set the NCAA Division I single-season record for team batting average (.405), team slugging percentage (.778), on-base percentage (.490), home runs (161), runs scored (638), runs per game (10.63), home runs per game (2.68) and total bases (1,279).[3] They also set Women's College World Series records for home runs (15), runs scored (49) and hits (67).[4]

Roster

2021 Oklahoma Sooners roster
	Pitchers 4 – Shannon Saile – Redshirt Senior 7 – Olivia Rains – Sophomore 13 – Macy McAdoo – Sophomore 18 – Brooke Vestal – Redshirt Sophomore 19 – Nicole May – Freshman 42 – Giselle Juarez – Redshirt Senior 48 – Alanna Thiede – Sophomore Catchers 1 – Kinsey Koeltzow – Junior 9 – Kinzie Hansen – Sophomore 22 – Lynnsie Elam – Senior Outfielders 1 – Rylie Boone – Sophomore		Infielders 3 – Grace Lyons – Junior 5 – Taylon Snow – Senior 12 – Mackenzie Donihoo – Sophomore 20 – Jana Johns – Senior 23 – Tiare Jennings – Freshman 33 – Zaida Puni – Freshman Utility 6 – Paige Knight – Freshman 11 – Nicole Mendes – Redshirt Senior 21 – Grace Green – Junior 24 – Jayda Coleman – Freshman 25 – Raylee Pogue – Sophomore 78 – Jocelyn Alo – Senior
Reference:[5]

Schedule

2021 Oklahoma Sooners softball game log
Regular season (42–2)
February (12–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Big 12 Record February 11 at UTEP No. 4 Helen of Troy Field El Paso, TX 29–0 ^(5) Juarez (1–0) Salazar (0–1) Rains (1) 0 1–0 – February 11 vs Abilene Christian No. 4 Helen of Troy Field 9–0 ^(5) May (1–0) White (0–1) — 0 2–0 – February 12 vs Abilene Christian No. 4 Helen of Troy Field 11–0 ^(5) Juarez (2–0) Sinnott (0–1) — 0 3–0 – February 12 at UTEP No. 4 Helen of Troy Field 21–2 ^(5) May (2–0) Collins (0–1) — 0 4–0 – February 21 at Houston No. 2 Cougar Softball Stadium Houston, TX 12–4 ^(6) Juarez (3–0) Hertenberger (1–1) — 120 5–0 – February 21 at Houston No. 2 Cougar Softball Stadium 5–3 May (3–0) Lee (0–1) Saile (1) 120 6–0 – February 22 vs. Tarleton No. 2 Cougar Softball Stadium 13–0 ^(5) Saile (1–0) Bridges (0–3) — 0 7–0 – February 26 vs. New Mexico State No. 2 Farrington Tempe, AZ 8–0 ^(5) Saile (2–0) Guindon (1–3) — 147 8–0 – February 26 at Arizona State No. 2 Farrington 5–3 Juarez (4–0) Royalty (3–1) Saile (2) 285 9–0 – February 27 vs. New Mexico State No. 2 Farrington 33–4 ^(5) May (3–0) Hannappel (0–1) — 0 10–0 – February 27 at Grand Canyon No. 2 GCU Softball Stadium Phoenix, AZ 14–0 ^(5) Saile (3–0) Hambrick (2–4) — 65 11–0 – February 27 vs. Portland State No. 2 GCU Softball Stadium 8–0 ^(5) Juarez (5–0) Grey (1–1) — 45 12–0 –
March (13–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Big 12 Record March 5 Sam Houston State No. 1 OU Softball Complex Norman, OK 7–0 May (5–0) Billmeier (0–1) — 184 13–0 – March 6 No. 18 Missouri No. 1 OU Softball Complex 5–2 Juarez (6–0) Krings (3–1) — 0 14–0 – March 6 ULM No. 1 OU Softball Complex 9–0 ^(5) Saile (4–0) Chavarria (1–2) — 216 15–0 – March 7 No. 18 Missouri No. 1 OU Softball Complex 11–0 ^(5) Saile (5–0) Weber (5–1) — 150 16–0 – March 7 Sam Houston State No. 1 OU Softball Complex 17–0 ^(5) Thiede (1–0) Fitzpatrick (0–2) — 200 17–0 – March 10 UT Arlington No. 1 OU Softball Complex 14–0 ^(5) May (6–0) Gardiner (1–1) — 405 18–0 – March 12 Houston No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium Oklahoma City, OK 9–1 ^(5) Saile (6–0) Lee (2–4) — 0 19–0 – March 12 Kansas City No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 6–2 Juarez (7–0) Hoveland (5–3) — 0 20–0 – March 14 Liberty No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 5–4 May (7–0) Wagoner (2–2) — 550 21–0 – March 14 Liberty No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 16–0 ^(5) May (8–0) Kirby (4–3) — 1,083 22–0 – March 26 at Iowa State No. 1 Cyclone Sports Complex Ames, IA 9–7 Juarez (8–0) Charles (10–3) — 527 23–0 1–0 March 27 at Iowa State No. 1 Cyclone Sports Complex 10–2 ^(6) Saile (7–0) Swain (1–2) — 560 24–0 2–0 March 28 at Iowa State No. 1 Cyclone Sports Complex 22–2 ^(5) May (9–0) Charles (10–4) — 0 25–0 3–0
April (14–1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Big 12 Record April 1 Kansas No. 1 OU Softball Complex 14–0 ^(5) Saile (8–0) Goff (7–3) — 449 26–0 4–0 April 2 Kansas No. 1 OU Softball Complex 6–2 Juarez (9–0) Mills (1–2) — 445 27–0 5–0 April 3 Kansas No. 1 OU Softball Complex 10–1 ^(5) Juarez (10–0) Hamilton (3–6) — 465 28–0 6–0 April 10 vs. Mississippi State No. 1 Dr. Billy Bundrick Field Ruston, LA 9–0 ^(5) Juarez (11–0) Williams (3–4) — 500 29–0 – April 10 at Louisiana Tech No. 1 Dr. Billy Bundrick Field 10–0 ^(5) May (10–0) Hernandez (6–6) — 500 30–0 – April 16 No. 7 Texas No. 1 OU Softball Complex 11–1 ^(5) Juarez (12–0) O'Leary (9–1) — 459 31–0 7–0 April 17 No. 7 Texas No. 1 OU Softball Complex 10–2 ^(5) Saile (9–0) Jacobsen (11–3) — 484 32–0 8–0 April 18 No. 7 Texas No. 1 OU Softball Complex 9–0 ^(5) May (11–0) O'Leary (9–2) — 497 33–0 9–0 April 20 at No. 21 Georgia No. 1 Jack Turner Stadium Athens, GA 6–7 ^(9) Mary Wilson (15–5) May (11–1) — 400 33–1 – April 20 at No. 21 Georgia No. 1 Jack Turner Stadium 12–3 ^(5) Saile (10–0) Cutting (6–5) — 400 34–1 – April 24 Texas Tech No. 1 OU Softball Complex 15–0 ^(5) Juarez (13–0) Zoch (9–10) — 766 35–1 10–0 April 24 Texas Tech No. 1 OU Softball Complex 5–0 Saile (11–0) Edmoundson (7–9) — 766 36–1 11–0 April 25 Texas Tech No. 1 OU Softball Complex 20–0 ^(5) Juarez (14–0) Zoch (9–11) — 752 37–1 12–0 April 27 at Baylor No. 1 Getterman Stadium Waco, TX 7–1 Juarez (15–0) Rodoni (9–7) — 600 38–1 13–0 April 27 at Baylor No. 1 Getterman Stadium 11–0 ^(6) Saile (12–0) Mansell (7–4) — 600 39–1 14–0
May (3–1) Date Opponent Rank Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Big 12 Record May 4 at Wichita State No. 1 Wilkins Stadium Wichita, KS 14–3 ^(5) Saile (13–0) Lange (19–6) — 730 40–1 – May 7 at No. 9 Oklahoma State No. 1 Cowgirl Stadium Stillwater, OK 4–6 Eberle (19–1) Juarez (15–1) — 609 40–2 14–1 May 8 at No. 9 Oklahoma State No. 1 Cowgirl Stadium 6–4 Saile (14–0) Maxwell (14–3) May (1) 652 41–2 15–1 May 9 at No. 9 Oklahoma State No. 1 Cowgirl Stadium 11–8 May (12–1) Eberle (19–2) — 663 42–2 16–1
Post-season (14–2)
Big 12 tournament (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record B12T Record May 14 vs. Baylor No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 10–2 ^(5) Saile (15–0) Binford (5–4) — 3,839 43–2 1–0 May 14 vs. Texas Tech No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 8–2 Juarez (16–1) Edmoundson (7–11) — 3,839 44–2 2–0 May 15 vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State Final No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 10–2 ^(6) Saile (16–0) Eberle (21–3) — 3,879 45–2 3–0
Norman Regional (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Regional Record May 21 vs. Morgan State No. 1 OU Softball Complex 19–0 ^(6) Juarez (17–1) Rundlett (12–8) — 1,555 46–2 1–0 May 22 vs. Wichita State No. 1 OU Softball Complex 7–5 Juarez (18–1) Lange (22–6) May (2) 1,556 47–2 2–0 May 23 vs. Wichita State No. 1 OU Softball Complex 24–7 May (13–1) Lange (22–8) — 1,668 48–2 3–0
Norman Super Regional (2–0) Date Opponent Rank Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Super Reg. Record May 28 vs. No. 16 Washington No. 1 OU Softball Complex 4–2 May (14–1) Plain (32–4) — 1,758 49–2 1–0 May 28 vs. No. 16 Washington No. 1 OU Softball Complex 9–1 ^(5) Saile (17–0) Plain (32–5) — 1,800 50–2 2–0
Women's College World Series (6–2) Date Opponent Rank Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record WCWS Record June 3 vs. James Madison First round No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 3–4 ^(8) Alexander (17–1) Saile (17–1) — — 50–3 0–1 June 5 vs. Georgia First round No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 8–0 ^(6) Juarez (19–1) Wilson Avant (20–12) — — 51–3 1–1 June 5 vs. No. 2 UCLA Second round No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 10–3 Juarez (20–1) Garcia (18–3) — — 52–3 2–1 June 6 vs. James Madison Semifinals No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 6–3 May (15–1) Alexander (18–2) — — 53–3 3–1 June 7 vs. James Madison Semifinals No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 7–1 Juarez (21–1) Alexander (18–3) — — 54–3 4–1 June 8 vs. No. 10 Florida State Final – Game 1 No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 4–8 Watson (12–1) May (15–2) — 12,173 54–4 4–2 June 9 vs. No. 10 Florida State Final – Game 2 No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 6–2 Juarez (22–1)) Sandercock (27–4) — 12,115 55–4 5–2 June 10 vs. No. 10 Florida State Final – Game 3 No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 5–1 Juarez (23–1)) Watson (12–2) — 10,830 56–4 6–2
Win   Loss   Postponement Bold: Sooners team member Reference:[6] Rankings from NFCA: (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Rankings

Main article: 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
NFCA / USA Today	4	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Softball America	5	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
ESPN.com/USA Softball	4	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
D1Softball	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Awards and honors

Weekly Awards Player Award Date Awarded Ref. Tiare Jennings Big 12 Player of the Week February 16, 2021 [7] Tiare Jennings Big 12 Player of the Week March 9, 2021 [8] Shannon Saile Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Week March 9, 2021 Jocelyn Alo Big 12 Player of the Week March 16, 2021 [9] Jocelyn Alo Big 12 Player of the Week March 30, 2021 [10] Tiare Jennings Big 12 Player of the Week April 7, 2021 [11] Tiare Jennings Co-Big 12 Player of the Week April 20, 2021 [12] Shannon Saile Big 12 Pitcher of the Week April 27, 2021 [13] Individual Awards Player Award Ref. Jocelyn Alo Big 12 Player of the Year USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year [14] [15] [16] Tiare Jennings Big 12 Freshman of the Year NFCA National Freshman of the Year Grace Lyons Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Patty Gasso Big 12 Coach of the Year

All-Big 12 Player Selection Ref. Jocelyn Alo First Team [14] Jayda Coleman First Team Tiare Jennings First Team Grace Lyons First Team Shannon Saile First Team Mackenzie Donihoo Second Team Lynnsie Elam Second Team Giselle Juarez Second Team Jayda Coleman Freshman Team Tiare Jennings Freshman Team Nicole May Freshman Team All-American Player Selection Ref. Jocelyn Alo First Team [17] Jayda Coleman First Team Tiare Jennings First Team Kinzie Hansen Second Team Grace Lyons Second Team

References

1. "Big 12 Softball Standings". Big12Sports.com. Big 12 Conference. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
2. Rohde, John (June 10, 2021). "Sooners Capture Fifth National Championship". soonersports.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
3. Bitterman, Abby (June 10, 2021). "OU Softball (Extra Frames): Sooners broke record after record, all season and at the World Series". The Norman Transcript. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
4. "Record Breakers". soonersports.com. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
5. "2021 Softball Roster". soonersports.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
6. "2021 Softball Schedule". soonersports.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
7. "OU's Jennings, ISU's Spelhaug Take Opening Week Softball Awards". big12sports.com. February 16, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
8. "OU's Jennings & Saile, OSU's Eberle Earn Softball Honors". big12sports.com. March 9, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
9. "Oklahoma's Alo, Baylor's Binford take Week 5 Softball Honors". big12sports.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
10. "Oklahoma's Alo, Baylor's Rodoni Earn Week 7 Softball Honors". big12sports.com. March 30, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
11. "Sooners' Jennings, Longhorns' O'Leary clinch Week 8 Softball Awards". big12sports.com. April 6, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
12. "Texas Tech's Zoch and Whaley With OU's Jennings Claim Week 11 Softball Awards". big12sports.com. April 20, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
13. "Oklahoma's Saile, Texas' Burke Claim Week 12 Softball Awards". big12sports.com. April 27, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
14. "2021 All-Big 12 Softball Awards Unveiled" (PDF). big12sports.com. May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
15. "Jocelyn Alo named 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year". teamusa.org. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
16. "Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings named 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year". nfca.org. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
17. "2021 Big 12 Softball National Honors". big12sports.com. May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.