After becoming the first program in history to sweep the Big 12 in back-to-back seasons, The Sooners are heading to Oklahoma City with an eye on their third consecutive postseason tournament championship.
Living For The Postseason
Since the Big 12 resumed the postseason tournament, following a six-year break (2011-2016) the Sooners have won back-to-back postseason tournaments (2017 & 2018). Prior to that OU won tournaments in 1996, 2001, 2007, 2010 to claim six total postseason titles.
BIG 12 SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
| Date | Seeds | Time | Field | TV |
| Friday, May 10 | Game 1 – No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 3 Texas | 11 a.m. | INTEGRIS | FCS |
| Friday, May 10 | Game 2 – No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 6 Kansas | 11 a.m. | Field 3 | FloSoftball |
| Friday, May 10 | Game 3 – No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Texas Tech | 2 p.m. | INTEGRIS | FCS |
| Friday, May 10 | Game 4 – No. 3 Texas vs. No. 5 Iowa State | 2 p.m. | Field 3 | FloSoftball |
| Friday, May 10 | Game 5 – No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 5 Iowa State | 5 p.m. | INTEGRIS | FCS |
| Friday, May 10 | Game 6 – No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Kansas | 7:30 p.m. | INTEGRIS | FCS |
| Saturday, May 11 | Game 7 – Pool A 3rd place vs. Pool B 3rd place | 11 a.m. | INTEGRIS | FCS |
| Saturday May 11 | Game 8 – Pool A 2nd place vs. Pool B 2nd place | 1:30 p.m. | INTEGRIS | FCS |
| Saturday, May 11 | Game 9 – Championship Game | 4 p.m. | INTEGRIS | FS2 |
On Top Of The World
After sweeping No. 12/13 Oklahoma State on the road last week, the Sooners remained ranked No. 1 in both the USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 for the fourth week in a row. Oklahoma is the only program to be ranked every week of the NFCA poll all-time, a run of 365 straight polls.
Leading In More Than Just The Polls
Oklahoma leads the nation in the following statistical categories: batting average (.366), earned run average (1.17), fielding percentage (.987), home runs per game (1.94), on-base percentage (.456), shutouts (22), slugging percentage (.679), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.88) and win-loss percentage (.960).
The Streaks Continue
Oklahoma has won 38 consecutive games, a program record and the nation’s longest active streak. The school record was broken on April 24 as the Sooners took down Wichita State to claim their 32nd straight win. The streak marks the third time in school history that OU has put together 30 straight wins.
Last weekend Oklahoma pushed its Big 12 regular season winning streak to 43 straight games, marking an OU and a Big 12 record. Its last conference loss was to Baylor in Norman on April 23, 2017.
Sweeping The Individual Awards As Well
After becoming the first team in Big 12 history to finish conference play undefeated in back-to-back seasons, the Sooners earned every individual award from the league on Wednesday.
Sydney Romero was named Player of the Year, Giselle Juarez was tabbed Pitcher of the Year, Caleigh Clifton earned Defensive Player of the Year, Grace Green claimed Freshman of the Year and Patty Gasso was awarded Coach of the Year. This is the first time in Big 12 history that one school has swept every individual award.
Dangerous & Defensive
Oklahoma’s offense leads the nation in batting average (.366), on-base percentage (.456), slugging percentage (.681) and home runs per game (1.94) while ranking second in runs per game (7.98).
The Sooners have run-ruled 23 opponents and shut out 22 in 2019, outscoring foes 399-59. They have won 37 games by at least five runs and have hit multiple home runs in 30 games.
After last weekend’s Bedlam Series, Oklahoma’s defense led the country with a fielding percentage of .987. The Sooners have only committed 15 errors in 2019, including just five in Big 12 play.
The Untouchables
Oklahoma’s pitching staff is currently leading Division I softball in ERA (1.17), shutouts (22) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.88).
All three primary pitchers are ranked in the top 20 nationally in ERA. Shannon Saile ranks eighth (1.08), Mariah Lopez is ninth (1.10) and Giselle Juarez sits in 19th (1.32).
Saile, Juarez and Lopez rank 1-2-3 in the Big 12, respectively, in strikeouts per seven innings pitched. Nationally, Saile (11.2 K/7IP) is ranked 2nd, Juarez (10.0) 7th and Lopez (9.7) is 12th.