Oklahoma's Rylie Boone Looking to Stay in 'Lockdown Mode' at the Cowgirl Challenge

Oklahoma’s perfect start to the 2024 season last weekend was, by Patty Gasso’s own admission, imperfect.

The top-ranked Sooners handled business against No. 5 Washington, No. 10 Duke, Utah Valley and Long Beach State, but there’s still plenty of room to grow.

“I asked the team (Tuesday) to rank our performance one to 10,” Gasso said. “I had a lot of fours, I had a lot of fives and a few sixes. And we just beat two top 10 teams with that level of performance.

“It’s something to look at and go ‘hey, OK.’ They were not happy but they competed and that’s what’s important to me. It’s a good start, absolutely, it’s a good start.”

No team wants to play its best softball in February, as everyone works to peak in June, and the Sooners are no different.

How to Watch Oklahoma Softball at the Cowgirl Challenge

• Game 1: OU vs. Central Arkansas, Friday, 3:30 p.m., SoonerSports.com

• Game 2: OU vs. McNeese State, Friday, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• Game 3: OU vs. Lamar, Saturday, 1:30 p.m., SoonerSports.com

• Game 4: OU vs. McNeese State, Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+

• Game 5: OU vs. Central Arkansas, Sunday, 11 a.m., SoonerSports.com

The pitching staff, populated by three transfers who joined returners Nicole May and Kierston Deal, worked through early-season jitters.

Some hitters were excited too, taking an approach that isn’t the norm in Norman.

“Some of these guys this weekend, they were over-swinging,” Gasso said. “They were trying to hit home runs. They were swinging at pitches out of the zone.”

One player not guilty of that was senior outfielder Rylie Boone.

She helped the Sooners in a number of ways, whether it was laying down inch-perfect bunts for singles or delivering the game-winning RBI in the top of the eighth inning against Washington.

Occasionally overlooked, Boone finished 2023 fifth on the team in batting average and second in on-base percentage, a testament to all the tools she brings to the table.

“She’s got a lot of weapons,” Gasso said, “and I think people think she’s a short game, like a slapper, so people play her in a little bit. And that’s one thing I love about her is she can mix you up a little bit and make you feel like she’s gonna do something and then change.

“She did such a great job going opposite. She’s a smart hitter. She’s a really smart hitter. She knows the game really well.”

After just four games, Boone is again a key part of OU’s offense.

She sits with the second-best batting average after ending the weekend 4-for-9 at the plate, driving in one run while also drawing a walk.

Boone also swiped one of Oklahoma’s four stolen bases in Puerto Vallarta.

“Riley Boone was in lockdown mood,” Gasso said. “I felt her the whole weekend just in the moment. Not trying to do anything more than she needed to do. And she easily could have been an MVP of that weekend as well.”

Boone’s energy will be needed as the Sooners look to improve during the second weekend of the season.

A murderer’s row doesn’t lie ahead, as Oklahoma will play a pair of games against McNeese State and Central Arkansas as well as one contest against Lamar in McNeese State’s Cowgirl Challenge, but that doesn’t mean OU can take the weekend off mentally.

“Central Arkansas was a tournament team last year,” Gasso said. “Lamar is a program on the rise. McNeese had one of the most exciting (Regionals). They were almost at the World Series.

“Looking at their numbers, they had over 148 stolen bases last year, which is unheard of. So it’s going to be fast and furious. It’s going to be a lot of short game, slapping, runners in motion … our defense is going to have to be on point.”

Oklahoma’s first chance to raise its levels of play will come Friday.

The Sooners will first take on Central Arkansas in Lake Charles, LA, on Friday at 3:30 p.m., followed by a battle with McNeese State at 6 p.m.

Saturday, OU will return to action at 1:30 p.m against Lamar and close the day with a 6:30 p.m. contest against McNeese State.

Oklahoma will close the weekend against Central Arkansas on Sunday at 11 a.m.

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