June 14, 2011
NORMAN, Okla. - The seventh-ranked University of Oklahoma softball team finished 2011 with a 43-19 mark and advanced to the program's sixth NCAA Division I Women's College World Series, its first since 2004.
The Sooners finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference with a 10-8 mark. Oklahoma made its 18th straight postseason appearance and opened at home as the nation's No. 9 seed.
OU got past Iona (7-1) and Tulsa (6-0) before the Golden Hurricane forced the "if necessary" game on Sunday with a 4-3 nine-inning win. OU responded from the loss by winning 5-0 to advance to the NCAA Super Regional against eighth-seeded Arizona in Tucson.
Oklahoma fired all on all cylinders throughout the weekend, downing the Wildcats in two straight games (6-0 and 5-2) to win its first Super Regional. The Sooners fell to No. 1 Arizona State 3-1 in the opening round before being eliminated by Missouri 4-1.
Below is a look at some of the top moments of the 2011 season. Click here to see the complete season review.
| Softball's Top Moments of 2011 |
Gascoigne's Perfect Game vs. Appalachian State | February 11
Sophomore Michelle Gascoigne threw the seventh perfect game in Oklahoma program history against the Mountaineers on Feb. 11 in Tempe, Ariz. Gascoigne faced the minimum 15 batters in the 8-0 five-inning win over ASU. She struck out eight and only threw 51 pitches in the win.
 Recap | Box Score |
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Gasso's 800th win vs. Washington | March 19
Oklahoma jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning but Washington rallied back to tie the game at 5-5. The Sooners scored two in the top of the eighth and held the Huskies to just one run in the bottom half to win 7-6 in eight innings in Fullerton, Calif. The win was OU's 26th of the year and head coach Patty Gasso's 800th win at Oklahoma.
Recap | Box Score |
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Shults' Walk-Off Sacrifice Fly vs. Baylor | April 9
OU trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh and rallied for one of its most dramatic wins of the year. Junior Katie Norris reached on a one-single and senior Chana'e Jones walked before freshman Destinee Martinez brought in two runs to tie the game. Jessica Shults' line drive to center was enough to score sophomore Brianna Turang from third and cap off the comeback.
Recap | Box Score | Photos |
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Sooners Retain Bedlam Bell with 5-1 Win | April 13
Oklahoma continued its home dominance in the Bedlam series with a 5-1 win over Oklahoma State on April 13. The Sooners got home runs from sophomores Jessica Shults and Keilani Ricketts and freshman Brittany Williams as OU won at home against the Cowgirls for a 14th straight time.
Recap | Box Score | Photos
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Norris' Walk-Off Home Run vs. Texas A&M | April 23
It was the call heard around Oklahoma as broadcaster Toby Rowland predicted junior Katie Norris' walk-off home run against Texas A&M on April 23. After 6.5 scoreless innings, senior Dani Dobbs reached on a leadoff single and was thrown out at second as freshman Haley McGregor reached on a bunt fielder's choice. Norris stepped to the plate and on a 2-2 count delivered her third home run of the year to give the Sooners the win.
Recap | Box Score |
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Ricketts' Record-Setting Performance vs. Texas | April 30
Playing in Austin is never easy but in what's been described as the turning point for the 2011 team, the first game of the Texas series was one spectacular win for Oklahoma. The Longhorns were undefeated in conference play and the Sooners had already been eliminated from Big 12 title contention. Sophomore Keilani Ricketts entered the game needing just five strikeouts to tie the OU single season record. Ricketts struck out 10 in the complete game and held UT to just four hits. She got it done at the plate, too, driving in two runs.
Recap | Box Score |
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Ricketts Sets Single Game Record in Regional vs. Iona | May 20
After setting the single season strikeout record earlier in the season, sophomore Keilani Ricketts brought down another Oklahoma record in the regional opener against Iona. The All-American threw a complete game, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks. She struck out an OU single game record 19 batters in the 7-1 win.
Recap | Box Score | Photos |
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Sooners Advance to Super Regional for Second Straight Year | May 22
Oklahoma and Tulsa have met in the postseason in two of the last three seasons. The Sooners won 6-0 on May 21 to advance to the regional final. After TU won 4-3 in nine innings to force the "if necessary" game, sophomore Michelle Gascoigne took the circle in her first start of the postseason. The Sooners scored all five runs in the top of the third and Gascoigne threw a six-hit shutout to send Oklahoma to the Super Regionals for a second consecutive year.
Recap | Box Score | Photos |
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Oklahoma Wins First Super Regional to Advance to WCWS | May 28
Oklahoma. Arizona. The only two teams to be ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll every week of its existence squared off in Tucson for the chance to advance to the Women's College World Series. OU dominated the Wildcats in the opening game, winning 6-0 behind a 3-for-4 performance from sophomore Brianna Turang and solo home run from sophomore Keilani Ricketts. The Sooners led 5-0 through six on Saturday and held on to win 5-2 and advance to the program's first WCWS since 2004.
Game 1 : 2 Recap | Game 1 : 2 Box Score | Game 1 : 2 Photos |
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Dobbs' Heroic Performance in Final Game | June 4
Sometimes heroes come in the form of gritty softball players who take one for the team. That was the case with senior Dani Dobbs in Oklahoma's elimination game on Saturday at the Women's College World Series. Already thin at the catcher position, backup junior Katie Norris was unable to play due to an elbow injury. In stepped Dobbs, who hadn't played catcher since high school. Dobbs was also responsible for Oklahoma's only run of the day - a solo home run in the top of the seventh in her final at-bat. While the injuries finally caught up with the Sooners in the 4-1 loss to Missouri, what Dobbs did that day will long be remembered as one of the most heroic performances in OU history.
Recap | Box Score | Photos | Mossman: Dobbs Embodied Leadership |
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