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OU softball coach Patty Gasso wasn't lying about her pitching staff. Sooners have depth.

ryan aber, the oklahoman
·4 min read

NORMAN — SJ Geurin’s OU softball debut had been a long time coming.

Geurin redshirted last season and didn’t appear in a game during the opening weekend.

But with the Sooners leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth Saturday vs. McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Patty Gasso turned to Geurin.

Geurin retired both batters she faced, striking out one, before giving way to Nicole May.

May ultimately picked up the win in the 3-0 win over the Cowgirls, but Geurin’s weekend wasn’t done.

More: Relive OU softball's run to three straight WCWS titles with our 'Crimson Empire' book

Oklahoma's SJ Geurin throws a pitch during the University of Oklahoma softball competes in the Battle Series Game 5 at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Thursday, Nov., 9, 2023.
Oklahoma's SJ Geurin throws a pitch during the University of Oklahoma softball competes in the Battle Series Game 5 at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Thursday, Nov., 9, 2023.

Sunday, Geurin came on to start the third against Central Arkansas, once again with the Sooners leading 2-0.

Geurin threw 2 2/3 innings, retiring all eight batters she faced, picking up her first career win in OU’s 8-0 five-inning win.

Gasso said before the season that she expected to be able to go six-deep with her pitching staff, and that was the case this weekend.

In the first nine games of the season, five different pitchers have picked up at least one win,

The only one of the six without win is Wisconsin transfer Paytn Monticelli, who has thrown six scoreless innings in five appearances this season. In the Cowgirl Classic, Monticelli struck out six in three innings.

Here’s a look at what else we learned about the Sooners last week:

More: Big 12 softball power rankings: Houston rising up behind top tier of OU, Texas & OSU

No. 1 OU

Overall record: 9-0

Last week: 5-0 (Beat Central Arkansas 9-0, McNeese State 8-1, Lamar 8-0, McNeese State 3-0, Central Arkansas 8-0)

This week: At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Cathedral City, California (vs. Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m. Friday; vs. Wisconsin, 10 p.m. Friday; vs. San Diego State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday; vs. Seattle, 11 a.m. Sunday; vs. Loyola Marymount, 1:30 p.m. Sunday).

More: OU softball extends winning streak to 61 with win over McNeese State

Sooners’ fielding makes strides

Paytn Monticelli got off to a bit of a shaky start in Sunday’s finale of the Cowgirl Challenge.

Monticelli retired the first Central Arkansas hitter before giving up a single, walking a batter then hitting a batter — former Moore High standout Gracie St. Hilaire — to load the bases.

With a chance to score against those stingy Sooners’ pitchers, the Bears pressed the issue when Emma Veach flied out to center.

Jayda Coleman made them pay.

Coleman cut down the runner at the plate, ending the threat.

It was the latest show of defensive force for OU.

There Sooners were originally charged with three errors — all in one inning — in its Feb. 9 win over Washington.

One of the errors was later changed to a hit, but there were still questions about how the Sooners’ defense — with several players in new spots — would respond.

So far, so good.

The Sooners haven’t committed an error since, including coming through on 119 chances in Lake Charles.

OU leads the Big 12 in fielding percentage at .991. The Sooners are also the only team in the league not to allow a stolen base. The Sooners cut down the only baserunner attempting to steal a base against them this season.

More: Get to know the 2024 Oklahoma Sooners softball team and schedule

Patty Gasso shakes up the lineup

Sooners coach Patty Gasso doesn’t have set lineups.

Gasso rarely goes back to the same batting order twice, even over the course of a season.

But the one constant over the last year-plus has been Jayda Coleman’s name at the top of the order.

Coleman came into the season having led off in 73 consecutive games and then stretched that streak to 79 to start this season.

But Saturday, Gasso switched that up.

Rylie Boone led off for the Sooners in games against Lamar and McNeese State, with Coleman hitting sixth.

Coleman went a combined 4 for 6 with a run in the spot, while Boone was 1 for 6 with two RBIs in the leadoff spot.

In Sunday’s finale, Coleman was back in the leadoff spot.

More: Oklahoma softball: These are the 5 best OU player performances we saw at Cowgirls Classic

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball pitcher SJ Geurin backs up Patty Gasso's preseason claims