Greatest of All Time? (Oklahoma 2013)

Note – the following was written prior to the 2013 CWCS Championship series (Oklahoma went on to beat Tennessee in two games to claim the 2013 NCAA Title).

By Pete LaFleur (editor@collegesoftball360.com)

The Oklahoma softball team (55-4) – now two wins away from the NCAA title, entering the WCWS Championship Series vs. Tennessee – has been mentioned among the best in the 32-year history of Division I softball. Here are some factors to consider (note that some of this research/content is courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com, please credit accordingly):

• The Sooners lead the nation in staff ERA (1.16) and runs per game (7.9), looking to become the first team ever to lead both categories for a season … due to so many run-rule wins (25), OU's run avg. actually is 9.6 runs per 7 innings (467 R in  341.2 off. innings) … OU has posted 28 shutout wins this season and has outscored opponents 82-13 in the 2013 NCAA Tournament (with five run-rule wins)

• The Sooners have trailed in 12 games all season for a total of 28.1 offensive innings (have made only 52 offensive outs when facing a deficit) … that means the OU offense has faced a deficit in only 8.2% of the innings (research courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com, see chart below).

• OU has a run differential nearing +400 (467-71; +396) in 59 games (+ 6.7/gm).

• The Sooners all-inclusive offensive dominance includes a .338 team batting average while nearing the 100 home run mark (92 HR) to go along with 67 stolen bases and a +101 team plate-discipline ratio (371 free passes, w/ 342 BB + 29 HBP, minus 270 strikeouts) … the nine OU starters actually have a .362 combined batting avg. (439-1,212; the various reserves are batting a combined .196).

• OU's "lowest" season batting avg. among the nine starters is .293 (by veteran catcher Jessica Shults) … seven starters are hitting at a clip of .340-plus (Callie Parsons is .296) … leading hitter Lauren Chamberlain (.456) has six more home runs (29) than strikeouts (23) this season and has totaled nearly three times as many free passes (65; 61 BB + 4 HBP) as Ks (23) … every OU starter except Destinee Martinez (5 BB, 10 Ks) has more walks than strikeouts this season.

• OU's dynamic duo in the circle – Keilani Ricketts (1.21 ERA, 34-1, 337K/57 BB+33 HB, 118 H/.149 opp. avg. in 226.1 IP) and Michelle Gascoigne (0.92, 18-3, 198K/29BB+7 HB, 73 H/.160) – provides a rare commodity for the Sooners … the pair of senior LHPs have a combined ratio of 4.2 Ks per free pass (BB+HBP) and have a combined WHIP (BB+H per 7 IP) of 5.5 … they have allowed go-ahead runs by the opposition in only 12 games all season, with OU ultimately trailing for only 17.1 innings spanning 59 games.

• Unlike several of the nation's other top teams, OU played a challenging non-conferenece schedule (mostly away from home) during the first month of the season, ultimately playing 26 regular-season games vs. eventual 2013 NCAA tournament teams (23-3 in those games) … see list at bottom of this page.

Oklahoma 2013 Deficits Faced (12 games; prior to 2013 Champ. Series)
research courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com
(please credit accordingly)

2/8  (Phoenix, AZ) … vs. Oregon St. … trailed 1.2 off. inn. ... deficit: 0-2 (top-1)
... OU scored 3R b-2 for 3-2 lead … final: 14-2 victory (pitcher: Gascoigne)

2/10  (Phoenix, AZ) … vs. Northwestern … trailed 0.0 inn. ... deficit: 2-4 (b-3)
... OU scored 3R t-4 for 5-4 lead … final: 7-4 victory (pitcher: Ricketts)

2/17  (San Diego, CA) … vs. Notre Dame … trailed 0.2 inn. ... deficit: 2-3 (b-6)
... OU tied game (3-3) with run t-7 (won in 9) ... final: 7-5 win (Ricketts/Gascoigne)

3/2  (Norman, OK) … vs. Nebraska … trailed 3.0 inn. ... deficit: 0-1 (top-5)
… final: 1-0 loss (pitcher: Gascoigne)

3/23  (Norman, OK) … vs. Louisville … trailed 4.0 inn. ... deficit: 0-5 (top-4)
... final: 5-0 loss (pitcher: Gascoigne)

4/6  (Norman, OK) … vs. Baylor … trailed 2.2 inn. ... deficit: 0-2 (top-1)
... OU scored 5R b3 for 5-3 lead ... final: 9-3 victory (pitcher: Gascoigne)

4/20  (Austin, TX) … at Texas … trailed 6.0 inn. ... deficit: 0-2 (top-1)
... final: 4-2 loss (pitcher: Gascoigne)

5/5  (Lawrence, KS) … at Kansas … trailed 2.1 inn. ... deficit: 0-1 (b-2)
... OU scored 2R t5 for 2-1 lead ... final: 4-2 victory (pitcher: Ricketts) 

5/5  (Lawrence, KS) … at Kansas …trailed 6.0 inn. ... deficit: 0-2 (top-1)
... final: 2-0 loss (pitchers: Gascoigne & Ricketts)

5/10  (Oklahoma City) … vs. Oklahoma St … trailed 1.1 inn. ... deficit: 0-1 (b-1)
...  OU scored 6R t3 for 6-1 lead ... final: 10-1 victory (pitcher: Ricketts)

5/30  (Oklahoma City) … vs. Michigan … trailed 0.0 inn. ... deficit: 0-2 (top-3)... OU scored 4R b3 for 4-1 lead ... final: 7-1 victory (pitcher: Rickets)

6/1  (Oklahoma City) … vs. Texas … trailed 0.2 inn. ... deficit: 0-2 (top-3)
... OU scored 6R b3 for 6-2 lead … final: 10-2 victory (pitcher: Ricketts)

Totals: trailed only 12 games for total of 28.1 innings (8.2% of season's innings)

* The Northwestern and Notre Dame games represent the only times all season that on opponent has come from behind to take the lead vs. Oklahoma (OU led the Wildcats 2-0, fell behind 4-2 and won 7-4 … OU led ND 2-0, trailed 3-2 and won 7-5)

Note: Keilani Ricketts has been the pitcher of record in only 5.1 of the offensive innings listed in the above chart (when OU offense has faced a deficit), representing only 2.4% of her 226.1 total innings … in other words, the Sooners offense has made only 16 outs all season when facing a deficit with Ricketts on the mound: 

• 0.0 innings vs. Northwestern (tied game w/ no outs; trailed 4-2, won 7-4)
• 2.1 innings at Kansas (gm-1), overcame 2-0 deficit to win 4-2

• 1.0 innings at Kansas (gm-2), threw final inning (b6) in relief (2-0 loss)
• 1.1 innings vs. OK State (turned 1-0 deficit into 10-1 win)
• 0.0 innings vs. Michigan (WCWS), quickly tied game w/ no outs & won 7-1
• 0.2 innings vs. Texas (WCWS), turned 2-0 deficit into 10-2, run-rule win

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Oklahoma's 26 regular-season games vs. 2013 NCAA Tournament teams:

• 3 games vs. Texas (away),  Kentucky (1N, 2H) and Baylor (home)
• 2 games vs. Louisville (home), Arizona (neutral) and Houston (home)
• One game vs. Oregon (N), Washington (N), Nebraska (N), Florida State (N),
NC State (N), Stanford (N), Georgia (N), Notre Dame (N), Tulsa (A), Oregon State (N) 
and San Diego State (A)
(23-3; losses vs. Nebraska, Louisville & Texas, plus non-NCAA team Kansas)

Note: OU also played two games vs. quality Arkansas team in the NCAA Regional round, then went 2-0 vs. nationally-ranked Texas A&M in the Super Regionals before adding WCWS wins over Michigan, Texas and Washington

© College Sports 360, LLC ... editor@CollegeSoftball360.com