But Oklahoma is not most college softball programs. And coach Patty Gasso certainly isn't most college softball coaches. She was blunt following her Sooners' loss to Tennessee on Sunday, a loss that provided Oklahoma its first-ever Southeastern Conference series defeat.

Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens carried her team across the finish line, and the Volunteers handed Oklahoma its first series defeat of the season.

The Oklahoma Sooners needed someone on the pitching staff to step up. Kierston Deal provided just what the doctor ordered on Saturday in the Oklahoma Sooners' win over Tennessee. Deal threw a complete game,

She would go 1-for-1 with four walks at Wichita State and started the Tennessee series by going 7-for-7 with two free passes. A pitcher's duel ensued in the first few frames as neither Pickens nor Landry permitted a hit heading into the bottom of the third.

OU softball knew it had a challenge ahead when reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens rolled into town. "This is a great learning opportunity for us," Sooners coach Patty Gasso said. "It's humbling,

But few thought the No. 2 Oklahoma softball team would suffer such a fate this early in the season. OU dropped its series finale against No. 10 Tennessee on Sunday, 5-3, and dropped a Southeastern Conference series for the first time in school history.

OU softball coach Patty Gasso couldn’t wait to see how her team responded after a series-opening loss to Tennessee on Friday night at Love's Field.