OU Softball: Oklahoma 'Looking Forward' to 'Hostile' Bedlam Environment
The stakes of this year’s Bedlam series are going to be a bit different.
Both of the past two years, the winner of the yearly battle would walk away with the Big 12 regular season title.
Patty Gasso’s top-ranked Sooners have already clinched the hardware this season with last weekend’s sweep of Kansas.
But there will still be more than just bragging rights on the line.
The Sooners will roll into Stillwater a sterling 46-1, riding a 38-game winning streak.
With the Big 12 Tournament and the march to notch the program’s third straight national title, Gasso has clear goals for her squad this weekend.
“We really want to have a clean game, clean weekend,” Gasso said on Wednesday. “Pitchers have been great. Our defense has been outstanding. Offensively, this is gonna be a challenge for us and we know it. It’s a lot of work.”
For Oklahoma State, the No. 7-ranked Cowgirls are holding on for dear life.
How to Watch the Bedlam Series:
- Game 1: Friday at Cowgirl Stadium, 6 p.m., ESPN2
- Game 2: Saturday at Cowgirl Stadium, 4 p.m., ESPN
- Game 3: Sunday at Cowgirl Stadium, 2 p.m.. ESPN+
Kenny Gajewski’s team spent most of the season parked right behind the Sooners in the ranking, but a disastrous close to April has OSU (41-10) on a backslide.
The Cowgirls lost five straight games, falling to Iowa State, Wichita State and getting swept by Texas, potentially putting the change to host a Super Regional at risk.
Oklahoma State appeared to steady the ship, taking two of three off of Texas Tech in Lubbock, but then the Cowgirls dropped their midweek game to North Texas 5-1.
Propelled by a raucous crowd, OSU is looking to regain some confidence and add a marquee win to its tournament resume before the Big 12 Tournament.
Gasso worked this season to prepare the Sooners for the environment in Stillwater, taking her team to take on LSU in Baton Rouge earlier this year.
“There’s a lot of emotions in these games and all that. It’s good for us to feel,” she said. “That’s what LSU was for, was to get us to understood what it feels like on the road in a hostile environment.”
A number of Oklahoma players will be taking the field in their first Bedlam battle.
Haley Lee, Alex Storako, Alynah Torres, Cydney Sanders and Jocelyn Erickson are a few of those new faces who will be called upon to produce this year.
But even a veteran like Alyssa Brito has never stepped foot in Cowgirl Stadium.
“I’m really excited,” Brito said. “… I’ve heard really crazy things about it. But I’m excited to go into that atmosphere and just to play them is always super competitive.
“Two really good teams going up against each other so I think it’s going to be a good setup for postseason and down the road.”
Outside of the atmosphere, the Sooners will have to contend with a well-rounded opponent.
Despite Oklahoma State’s recent offensive struggles, the Cowgirls still rank No. 8-nationally in batting average.
Transfer Rachel Becker is a constant threat, as she’s batting .462, the ninth-best mark in country, in the leadoff spot.
OSU’s pitching staff is stellar again, as the Cowgirls rank 12th in team ERA this year, led again by veteran pitcher Kelly Maxwell.
Still, the Sooners have dominated the series as of late, wining six of the eight contests between the Big 12 juggernauts over the past two seasons.
“I think we play better and almost rise to the occasion when teams are against us and have that atmosphere around us,” Brito said. “… I just love going into other people’s places and kind of having that chip on our shoulder and having to come in knowing that everyone’s against us.
“… I personally just find it really fun when it’s super intense and passionate. So for me that’s when I feel like I thrive the most.”
While the Cowgirls have faltered down the stretch, the Sooners are thriving.
The three-headed pitching monster of Jordy Bahl, Nicole May and Storako continues to dominate Big 12 opposition, and Sanders has found her power in the lineup as of late.
For Oklahoma, Bedlam represents the start of postseason play, and Gasso hopes her team will be locked in to rise to the challenge.
The first of the weekend’s three battles will start on Friday at 6 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Gasso said. “It’s always fun to play them. It's fun to play tight games. It’s fun to play hard games. It’s fun to play in front of crowds whether they’re for you or against you.
“But ultimately it’s going to make us better and prepare us for what’s next and that’s what this is about for us.”
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