2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team

2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball
National Champion NCAA Norman Super Regional champion NCAA Norman Regional champion Big 12 regular season and tournament champion
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Record	61–1 (18–0 Big 12)
Head coach	Patty Gasso (29th season)
Home stadium	OU Softball Complex

2023 Big 12 Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf									Overall
Team	W		L		T		PCT			W		L		T		PCT
No. 1 Oklahoma  ‍†‍‡‍^y	18	–	0	–	0		1.000			61	–	1	–	0		.984
No. 8 Texas  ‍‍‍^y	11	–	7	–	0		.611			45	–	15	–	1		.746
No. 9 Oklahoma State  ‍‍‍^y	10	–	8	–	0		.556			47	–	16	–	0		.746
No. 18 Baylor  ‍‍‍^y	8	–	10	–	0		.444			40	–	18	–	0		.690
Iowa State  ‍‍‍	6	–	12	–	0		.333			25	–	30	–	0		.455
Kansas  ‍‍‍	5	–	13	–	0		.278			25	–	27	–	0		.481
Texas Tech  ‍‍‍	5	–	13	–	0		.278			31	–	22	–	0		.585
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 8, 2023[1] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

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.[2][3] The season was also highlighted by setting an NCAA Division I softball-record 53-game winning streak.[4]

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.[5]

Offseason

Departures

Oklahoma outgoing transfers

Player	Position	Height	Year	New team	Ref
Turiya Coleman	Utility	5'7"	Freshman	Houston	[6]
Mackenzie Donihoo	Infielder	5'3"	Junior	Tennessee	[7]

Additions

Oklahoma incoming transfers

Player	Position	Height	Year	Previous team	Ref
Alex Storako	Pitcher	5'11"	Redshirt senior	Michigan	[8]
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.[9][10][11][12]

Award watch lists

Award	Player	Position	Year	Ref
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year	Jordy Bahl	Pitcher	Sophomore	[13]
	Jayda Coleman	Outfielder	Junior
	Kinzie Hansen	Catcher	Senior
	Tiare Jennings	Infielder	Junior
	Haley Lee	Utility	Redshirt Senior
	Grace Lyons	Infielder	Redshirt Senior
	Cydney Sanders	Infielder	Sophomore
	Alex Storako	Pitcher	Redshirt Senior

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 9 – Kinzie Hansen – Senior Outfielders 0 – Rylie Boone – Senior 24 – Jayda Coleman – Junior 27 – Hannah Coor – Sophomore   Infielders 1 – Cydney Sanders – Sophomore 3 – Grace Lyons – Redshirt Senior 23 – Tiare Jennings – Junior 82 – Avery Hodge – Freshman 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:[14]

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:[15]

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 Bill Barber Park Irvine, CA 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 vs. Longwood No. 1 Getterman Stadium Waco, TX 10–0 ^(5) Bahl (3–0) Burton (0–3) — — 6–0 – February 18 vs. Stephen F. Austin No. 1 Getterman Stadium 22–0 ^(5) Storako (2–0) Hannabas (1–2) — 1,240 7–0 – February 18 vs. Army No. 1 Getterman Stadium 9–0 ^(5) May (2–0) Grete (1–3) — 1,209 8–0 – February 19 at Baylor No. 1 Getterman Stadium 3–4 Orme (3–1) Bahl (3–1) Binford (1) 1,271 8–1 – February 24 vs. Cal State Fullerton No. 2 Big League Dreams Complex Cathedral City, CA 8–0 ^(5) Storako (3–0) Miranda (2–2) — 2,000 9–1 – February 24 vs. Texas A&M No. 2 Big League Dreams Complex 8–0 ^(5) May (3–0) Preston (2–1) — 2,000 10–1 – February 25 vs. Utah No. 2 Big League Dreams Complex 10–3 Bahl (4–1) Sandez (4–1) — 1,500 11–1 – February 25 vs. Loyola Marymount No. 2 Big League Dreams Complex 10–1 ^(5) Deal (2–0) Perez (1–7) — 2,000 12–1 – February 26 vs. No. 1 UCLA 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 UIC No. 1 OU Softball Complex Norman, OK 5–0 May (4–0) Toniolo (0–7) — 1,944 14–1 – March 3 No. 17 Kentucky 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 vs. Southeastern Louisiana No. 1 Nusz Park Starkville, MS 13-0 ^(5) Bahl (6–1) Comeaux (3–1) — 278 18–1 – March 10 at Mississippi State 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 vs. South Dakota State No. 1 OU Softball Complex 8–0 ^(5) May (7–0) Kniesche (8–3) — 1,706 21–1 – March 14 No. 6 Florida State No. 1 OU Softball Complex 5–4 Storako (7–0) DuBois (2–2) Bahl (1) 1,879 22–1 – March 17 vs. Weber State No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium Oklahoma City, OK 9–1 ^(5) Storako (8–0) Finch (1–1) — 4,627 23–1 – March 17 vs. Northwestern 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 vs. No. 19 Auburn 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 at Iowa State No. 1 Cyclone Sports Complex Ames, IA 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. 9 Texas 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 Texas Tech 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 at No. 13 LSU No. 1 Tiger Park Baton Rouge, LA 3–0 Bahl (12–1) Berzon (11–3) — 3,073 37–1 – April 15 vs. Louisville No. 1 Miami Softball Stadium Oxford, OH 10–1 ^(5) Storako (13–0) Felder (1–1) — 1,069 38–1 – April 15 at Miami (OH) No. 1 Miami Softball Stadium 13–1 ^(6) May (12–0) Pratt (18–10) — 1,069 39–1 – April 21 at No. 16 Baylor 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 at Wichita State No. 1 Wilkins Stadium Wichita, KS Cancelled[16] April 28 Kansas 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 at Tulsa No. 1 Collins Family Softball Complex Tulsa, OK 6–0 May (15–0) Nash (9–13) Storako (1) 1,000 46–1 – May 5 at No. 7 Oklahoma State No. 1 Cowgirl Stadium Stillwater, OK 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)
Big 12 Tournament (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
Norman Regional (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Regional Record May 19 vs. Hofstra 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
Norman Super Regional (2–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Super Reg. Record May 26 vs. No. 10 Clemson 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
Women's College World Series (5–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record WCWS Record June 1 vs. No. 7 Stanford No. 1 Hall of Fame Stadium 2–0 Bahl (19–1) Canady (16–2) — 12,379 57–1 1–0 June 3 vs. No. 4 Tennessee 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 vs. No. 3 Florida State 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
Win   Loss   Postponement Bold: Sooners team member Reference:[17] Rankings from NFCA: (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Rankings

Main article: 2023 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	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Softball America	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
ESPN.com/USA Softball	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
D1Softball	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

References

1. "Big 12 Softball Standings". Big12Sports.com. Big 12 Conference. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
2. Post, J.J. (June 8, 2023). "Oklahoma softball joins elite company with title three-peat". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
3. Auerbach, Nicole (June 8, 2023). "Oklahoma softball wins third consecutive national title: How Sooners cemented a dynasty". The Athletic. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
4. Brunt, Cliff (June 8, 2023). "Oklahoma wins third straight WCWS title, extends record win streak to 53". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
5. Rohde, John (June 9, 2022). "Back to Back: Sooners Win Sixth National Title". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
6. Chapman, Ryan (July 3, 2022). "Report: Oklahoma Softball's Turiya Coleman Enters Transfer Portal". SI.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
7. Batacao, Jason (June 17, 2022). "OU softball: Mackenzie Donihoo announces transfer to Tennessee". The Oklahoma Daily. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
8. Aber, Ryan (July 29, 2022). "Chasing third straight WCWS title, OU softball reloads via transfer portal. Here's how the 2023 roster looks". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
9. "USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Preseason)". NFCA.org. National Fastpitch Coaches Association. January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
10. "ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Preseason". teamusa.org. USA Softball. January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
11. "2023 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings". d1softball.com. D1Softball. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
12. "2023 NCAA Division I Softball Top 25". softballamerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises. January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
13. "2023 Softball Preseason National Honors". big12sports.com. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
14. "2023 Softball Roster". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
15. "2023 Softball Staff". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
16. "OU at Wichita State Canceled". soonersports.com. April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
17. "2023 Softball Schedule". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.