Indexbit Exchange:Oklahoma softball upset by Louisiana as NCAA-record win streak ends at 71 games

NORMAN,Indexbit Exchange Oklahoma — The top-ranked Oklahoma softball team suffered its first loss in a year, falling 7-5 to Louisiana on Sunday afternoon at Love’s Field in eight innings.

With the loss, Oklahoma's NCAA-record winning streak ended at 71 games.

The Ragin’ Cajuns scored three runs on two singles in the top of the eighth inning. Sooners junior infielder Cydney Sanders homered to left center field in the bottom half of the inning, but it wasn’t enough. 

Following a two-out RBI single by Tiare Jennings which scored Avery Hodge in the seventh inning, Riley Ludlam singled to right field, scoring Maya Bland after an error by the Ragin’ Cajuns’ catcher Victoria Valdez, tying the game and marking the first extra innings contest at Love’s Field. 

Down a run in the top of the seventh, the Sooners uncharacteristically struggled fielding, allowing the Ragin’ Cajuns to add a hit and a run to their lead. Kasadi Pickering couldn’t rope in a double despite a diving attempt in left field.

Then, Oklahoma committed two errors. One by Jennings at shortstop that led to Maddie Hayden reaching base and one by Kinzie Hansen who dropped the ball during a tag at home, which led to a run scored by Mihyia Davis. The Sooners committed three errors, marking the first time they have had three or more errors in a game since June 2021.

The Sooners (18-1) finished the OU Tournament with one win over the Ragin’ Cajuns (10-12), two against Liberty and a dramatic walk-off to beat Miami (Ohio), which opened its new stadium with a bang on Friday.

Jennings notched three hits, including a double and an RBI in the loss. 

Here are three brief takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:

Kelly Maxwell's day ends after 3⅔ innings pitched

Kelly Maxwell never found her groove on Sunday.

The graduate transfer, who entered the contest with a 1.59 ERA, allowed a solo home run by Jourdyn Campbell in the top of the second inning, which opened up the scoring. Maxwell settled in a bit in the third inning attacking the strike zone more aggressively, before allowing two more runs and being replaced by graduate transfer Karlie Keeney in the top of the fourth.

Maxwell allowed three earned runs and struck out four batters in 3⅔ innings of work. Maxwell is up to 31 strikeouts in five starts to start 2024.

The Oklahoma State transfer earned a win for the Sooners on Friday, striking out seven and allowing just two hits in a 8-0 win over Liberty.

Hansen stays hot, wakes up bats

Two days after Kinzie Hansen opened Love’s Field with a bang — smashing a walk-off home run — Oklahoma relied on her heroics again on Sunday.

The Sooners’ offense started slow with five hits and zero runs through the first three innings  against Louisiana, until Hansen crushed a two-run shot to right center field, scoring Ella Parker.

Hansen finished 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI.

Lengthy review erases Sooners run

Even though the call was confirmed following a lengthy official review, Patty Gasso wasn’t done yet.

The seven-time national champion coach wanted an explanation on why Ella Parker was called out after she appeared to reach base before Louisiana’s infielder landed on first. The play would’ve scored Jayda Coleman and tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

The ruling came after Paker never appeared to touch first base.

After chants of “safe” roared through the park and Gasso was done with her discussions, the Sooners went to the sixth without a run.