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