Three straight wins in the Normal Regional led to Oklahoma making their 14th straight Super Regional appearance in program history. Hosting Florida State in a three-game series that begins on Thursday as the Sooners pursue their fourth straight national championship.
Oklahoma picked up right where they left off the last few seasons regarding postseason dominance, winning yet another Big 12 Tournament title prior to the NCAA Tournament. But offensively they’ve done so largely without the help of Cydney Sanders, the Arizona State transfer who’s had some hitting struggles as of late.
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Sooners head coach Patty Gasso opened up about Sanders’ slump ahead of Supers, speaking on what isn’t clicking and how her first baseman can improve.
“Get it out of her head and stop thinking,” Gasso said. “It’s just body language, you can see that she’s mad at herself and then it just kind of sinks in.”
Sanders was a NFCA First Team All-American and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2022 at Arizona State, leading the Sun Devils with 62 RBIs, 45 walks, and a program single-season record 21 home runs. Boasting a .425 batting average that has unfortunately dropped down to .284 in her first season with the Sooners.
“She’s got 40 walks, which is unbelievable, so she is finding her way on base. And I’m saying when she swings a bat, if it’s a swing and miss, you hear the crowd going ooh ooh. I mean she’s got the swing, it’s just not clicking for her right now,” Gasso exlained.
Between her ability to get on base and her skills as an infielder, Gasso has stuck with her highly touted transfer addition despite her struggles in the batter’s box. Recording just one hit through six games this postseason along with another Arizona State transfer Alynah Torres.
“And it’s not us saying okay, well you go sit over here right now till we call on you. She’s too good at first (base), she really has a great glove at first. I’m just trusting in that,” Gasso said. “The same with Alynah, she’s putting the ball in play but it’s a little too routine and I know she knows she’s better than that.”
“So both of them are getting a little aggravated with themselves and maybe trying too hard and then kind of letting it sink in. And so we gotta shake that, we gotta work on trying to do that in the next couple days.”
The Sooners have been able to rack up wins amid Sanders’ and Torres’ struggles, with their win on Sunday over Oregon representing their 16th straight NCAA Tournament victory. But there’s no question that impoved hitting from the duo can help take Oklahoma to another level this postseason.
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