How Alyssa Brito's 'Simple' Approach Allows Her to Thrive in Oklahoma's Biggest Moments
Alyssa Brito has been a constant thorn in Texas’ side.
The Oklahoma junior split time the last two years, playing her freshman year at Oregon before transferring to Norman last year, but by pure happenstance crossed paths with the Longhorns in each of the last two years.
Her Ducks were sent to the Austin Regional in 2021, where Brito came within one game of eliminating Texas and advancing to the Super Regionals.
A Brito bomb pushed the Ducks over the line to force the if-necessary game in 2021, where Oregon fell just short of pulling the upset again.
She liked her time at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin so much that she returned last year with the Sooners, enacting even more damage on Mike White’s Longhorn pitching staff.
Brito hit three combined home runs in OU’s two road wins against Texas last year, driving in four RBIs across the entire weekend.
And though Texas won the series finale, snapping Oklahoma’s 38-game winning streak, Brito and the Sooners had the last laugh.
The Red River Rivals met three more times at the Women’s College World Series, as OU embarrassed the Longhorns in the Championship Series en route to the title.
Unsurprisingly, Brito was at the center of the demolition in Oklahoma City.
In eight career games against the Burnt Orange, she’s batting .393, hitting four home runs and three doubles while accounting for eight RBIs.
Alyssa Brito continued her strong showings against Texas in last year's Women's College World Series, helping Oklahoma capture its second consecutive National Championship
John E. Hoover / AllSooners
It’s apparent Brito loves the passion of the contests. Her fist pumps and celebratory yells are impossible to miss when she’s on, and balls fly out of the park because of it.
“It’s always really intense and I think our fans always show out and so do theirs,” Brito told AllSooners.com on Wednesday. “And just like the history behind it, how our programs have really gone at each other just with the rivalry and everything. But I’m really excited for it.
“Last year obviously we played them in the championship and that was super intense… So I’m just excited to go at it again.”
Friday’s contest against Texas will be a return to the scene of the crime from last June.
The first game of this year’s Big 12 series between the two SEC-bound programs will take place at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
And unfortunately for Texas, Brito’s numbers in Oklahoma City are even better.
In 17 career games at Hall of Fame Stadium, Brito has a batting average of .434, smashing five home runs and accounting for 18 RBIs while also drawing three walks and striking out just eight times.
It hasn’t mattered if the Sooners are hosting the Hall of Fame Classic, playing for a Big 12 Championship or facing the best teams in the sport at the WCWS — Brito has been red hot in Oklahoma City.
“She embraces it,” OU head coach Patty Gasso said. “And anybody who embraces it has a good chance of flourishing. She’s not afraid of big moments. She is just so full of energy. She’s a constant competitor… She loves that spotlight.”
OU fans sold out Friday’s game at Hall of Fame Stadium, and nearly 9,000 fans are expected to be in attendance.
The setting won’t quite reach the levels seen in June without the seats in the outfield, but that doesn’t mean Brito won’t feel the buzz in the stadium.
“I just love the atmosphere,” Brito said. “Being there on the home turf for the World Series, it’s different. It’s electric.
“You can feel our fans like in every pitch. So that’s just a big part for me and I just love their energy and feed off of it.”
As good as Brito has been in the past, her numbers are even better this year.
Entering the weekend, Brito’s batting average is .440, and improvement from her .368. mark last year, and she’s already launched eight home runs. With just 31 games played, Brito has already surpassed the number of doubles (11) she hit last year, and she’s upped both her slugging percentage (.881) and on-base percentage (.484)
And she’s done all of that at the plate while moving back into the infield, taking over the defensive duties at third base.
“She's extremely confident,” Gasso said. “It's just that (lack of) fear. It takes a different kind of player to play third base. You just have a different style about you and she's just real gritty.
“… She's just such a win, win, win, loves to compete, loves to get dirty. She's got that signature big stride step that everybody kind of mocks her with but it's fun to watch her play.”
Brito credited her offseason improvements to a strong mindset — one that’s ensured she never gets too high or too low.
“I think I’ve just been keeping it simple,” she said. “Not really trying to do too much and understand what my approach is at the plate.”
If the past is any indication of future success, then the entire Texas pitching staff will be wary of Brito stepping into the batter’s box.
Brito has made college softball’s biggest stage her own, and she could add more memories to her Hall of Fame Stadium experience on Friday night.
“It’s going to be awesome,” she said. “With all the upper level seating and just all the fans there I think it’s going to be really cool.
“… I love when it gets hype and when we get loud. Those moments are really awesome for me and when we get excited for each other that’s when I love it the most.
“I love playing with passion. I love seeing them get hype. Us feeding off of each other, those are the best moments.”
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