OU softball stunned again by Texas, snapping Sooners' Big 12 series winning streak

AUSTIN, Texas — OU coach Patty Gasso has a message for Sooners softball fans after Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Texas.

“Are we broken? Are we shaken? Absolutely not,” Gasso said. “What we need to do, and we know, is go back to Norman and reset.”

The Sooners dropped their first series since 2011 and have lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2020.

OU is still leading the Big 12, but the series loss certainly brings questions for a program looking to win their fourth consecutive Women’s College World Series title.

Both of the Sooners’ losses in the series came by a 2-1 score.

OU entered the series hitting .394, the best in the country.

But the Sooners hit just .260 in the three-game series, scoring just seven runs.

It equalled OU’s lowest scoring production in a series over the last 11 seasons.

“I think we didn’t adjust when we knew that they were making adjustments themselves,” Alyssa Brito said. “They did a really great job of constantly changing up their plans. We knew we were better than that and what we showed and how we responded. But also I just think we needed to stay within us. I’m not too worried about it, honestly. Like coach (Gasso) said, the sun rises again tomorrow and we get to go to practice and work and get at it for another day. I think this is a learning experience and this is something we need as an offense to push us because they are a really good staff. …

“This is only going to prepare us for what’s to come and I’m excited to see how we respond collectively.”

The Sooners also scored seven runs in a series at Baylor in 2012. The last time they scored fewer runs in a conference series came against Missouri in 2012 when the Sooners scored six.

OU (35-3, 13-2 Big 12) put runners on base in every inning against first Teagan Kazan and then Estelle Czech.

But they could only scratch together one run — on Ella Parker’s solo homer to lead off the third.

The Sooners will return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wichita State.

OU resumes Big 12 play Thursday against BYU at Love’s Field.

Here are three more takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:

More: OU softball loses at Texas as Longhorns snap Sooners' 40-game Big 12 win streak

Estelle Czech dominates Sooners

For the second time in three games, Czech kept the OU offense in, well, check.

In two appearances, Czech threw six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three.

Sunday, she earned the win with 3 ⅓ scoreless innings.

“She’s really tough on all hitters, but especially lefties,” Gasso said. “And we’ve got some crucial, critical lefties in the lineup. We’ve just gotta learn. She was really good. She took that role, and you could see it in her face. She wanted that opportunity to finish and close.”

Longhorns pitchers walked just six OU batters in the series.

The Sooners came into the series averaging more than 5.3 walks per game.

“I think it’s about minimizing mistakes against their powerful lineup,” Longhorns coach Mike White said. “They just hunt pitches. They’re so good at taking advantage of any mistakes you make so I was just proud of our pitching staff for minimizing mistakes. And then when they did hit the ball hard we made some plays and that’s what you have to do.

“We talk about it all the time, you just cannot give a team like Oklahoma or any really top team second chances.”

Kelly Maxwell comes through

One of the bright spots of the weekend was Kelly Maxwell’s performances.

Maxwell made her second start of the series Sunday, throwing 4 2/3 innings while striking out six and allowing just three hits.

But the Longhorns broke through in the fourth inning off her, after Maxwell hit Viviana Martinez with two outs.

Katie Stewart then belted Maxwell’s 1-1 pitch off the top of the left-field wall to put Texas ahead.

While Maxwell wanted the pitch back, Gasso pointed out Maxwell as one of the weekend’s highlights.

“Another level,” Gasso said of Maxwell’s weekend. “This is the best I’ve seen her. Confident, cool, calm, execution, getting ahead. Liked it so much the first night, wanted to see it again.

“She handled herself well. I’m telling you, their offense and our offense, it’s almost side by side looking identical. So for us to shut them down to two runs, that’s a big deal. But for them to shut us down to one is bigger. We know exactly where we’re going, but one big takeaways that’s very good for us is the work of Kelly this weekend in a big atmosphere against big-time hitters.”

Jayda Coleman’s hitting streak snapped

Jayda Coleman’s seven-game hitting streak came to an end.

Coleman fouled out to first in the first, drew a walk in the third, lined out to end the fourth, then flied out to left in the seventh.

It was just the fourth time this season Coleman was held hitless with at least three at-bats.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball loses Big 12 series to Texas, snapping 13-year record