Sooners beginning to feel inevitable again

Sooner pitcher Kelly Maxwell begins to unload a pitch against Oregon Saturday at the NCAA Norman Regional.

Patty Gasso is a tinkerer.

Her history says she tinkers well, or exceedingly well, or, fine, let’s tell the truth, historically well. But she did something Saturday afternoon that did not go well at all.

Kelly Maxwell began in the circle and having allowed a first-inning home run to Ariel Carlson but nothing since, Gasso decided the top of the seventh to be the right time to insert Karlie Keeney, who promptly allowed three hits and two runs without getting an out.

The Sooner coach said it was about giving big moments to others on her pitching staff, all for the greater good.

“We know what we’re doing,” Gasso said.

No doubt, she does.

But it didn’t work, putting the Ducks right back in the game.

Other than that?

Other than that Oklahoma’s 6-3 victory over Oregon atop Love’s Field felt a whole lot like the Sooners near their inevitable best, continuing the roll that began the final day of the Bedlam series, one day after the season hit bottom, the Cowgirls taking that weekend’s first two games.

OU has now won six straight games, including the Big 12 postseason tournament and the first two contests of The Norman Regional, giving the Sooners, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, two chances to win one game and advance into the NCAA super regional round, still in their own stadium.

Perhaps most important, over those six wins, you can see them coming back to full life, looking very much like a team capable of challenging for a fourth straight national championship.

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