2021 Oklahoma Sooners softball team
American college softball season
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
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
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 FieldEl 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 StadiumPhoenix, 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 ComplexAmes, 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 FieldRuston, 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 StadiumAthens, 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 StadiumWaco, 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 StadiumWichita, 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 StateFinal
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. GeorgiaFirst 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 MadisonSemifinals
No. 1
Hall of Fame Stadium
6–3
May (15–1)
Alexander (18–2)
—
—
53–3
3–1
June 7
vs. James MadisonSemifinals
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 StateFinal – 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 StateFinal – Game 3
No. 1
Hall of Fame Stadium
5–1
Juarez (23–1))
Watson (12–2)
—
10,830
56–4
6–2
Win Loss PostponementBold : Sooners team memberReference:[ 6] Rankings from NFCA: (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ 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]
References
^ "Big 12 Softball Standings" . Big12Sports.com . Big 12 Conference. Retrieved May 16, 2021 .
^ Rohde, John (June 10, 2021). "Sooners Capture Fifth National Championship" . soonersports.com . Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ "Record Breakers" . soonersports.com . June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021 .
^ "2021 Softball Roster" . soonersports.com . Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "2021 Softball Schedule" . soonersports.com . Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "OU's Jennings, ISU's Spelhaug Take Opening Week Softball Awards" . big12sports.com . February 16, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "OU's Jennings & Saile, OSU's Eberle Earn Softball Honors" . big12sports.com . March 9, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "Oklahoma's Alo, Baylor's Binford take Week 5 Softball Honors" . big12sports.com . March 16, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "Oklahoma's Alo, Baylor's Rodoni Earn Week 7 Softball Honors" . big12sports.com . March 30, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "Sooners' Jennings, Longhorns' O'Leary clinch Week 8 Softball Awards" . big12sports.com . April 6, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "Texas Tech's Zoch and Whaley With OU's Jennings Claim Week 11 Softball Awards" . big12sports.com . April 20, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "Oklahoma's Saile, Texas' Burke Claim Week 12 Softball Awards" . big12sports.com . April 27, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ a b "2021 All-Big 12 Softball Awards Unveiled" (PDF) . big12sports.com . May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
^ "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 .
^ "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 .
^ "2021 Big 12 Softball National Honors" . big12sports.com . May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021 .
Venues People Head coaches Seasons National Championships in bold ; College World Series appearances in italics