Louisiana snaps No. 1 Oklahoma’s historic 71-game winning streak

The win streak would eventually end one day, and that day came on Sunday. No. 1 Oklahoma fell for the first time in over a calendar year, losing 7-5 to Louisiana in extras.

It was far from the cleanest game from Oklahoma..or well Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns had the final out in hand, but Alexa Langeliers dropped an over-the-shoulder catch in the seventh and allowed the game-tying run to cross.

But in the eighth inning, Louisiana led off with a single. Then on three straight plays Alyssa Brito, Karlie Keeney and Tiare Jennings all fumbled balls – not all were necessarily errors but close plays. That allowed one run to score and Sam Roe ripped a ball that Jennings couldn’t handle bringing two more runs to the plate.

👏 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙄𝙉 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙉𝙏

🔼 8
Louisiana 5, No. 1 Oklahoma 4

📺 (ESPN+) https://t.co/o9n6vIVk4W
🎧 (103.3 FM/1420 AM) https://t.co/MZn6E2tWpj
📊 https://t.co/tAtpHENPDm#GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/S4RZkAVNpM

— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Softball (@RaginCajunsSB) March 3, 2024

Louisiana added an insurance run in the seventh inning because Brito tried cutting down a run at home, Hansen dropped the ball as she got ready for a rundown.

Hansen and Jayda Coleman also made baserunning mistakes with runners on first and second. Hansen got backpicked in the sixth and Coleman ended the third by leaving early.

The biggest moment of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hansen’s two-run homer the inning before finally got Oklahoma on the board against Louisiana starter Chloe Riassetto. It felt that the momentum as it has for years was swinging back in Oklahoma’s favor.

After Jennings doubled, she and Coleman stood in scoring position for Ella Parker. A two-out single would give Oklahoma its first lead of the day. Instead, she bounced one to third baseman Cecilia Vasquez for what appeared to be the third out of the inning. Vasquez left the throw high and Sam Roe leaped up to make the catch. Parker would make the play close but was ruled out. Despite Jennings rounding as the go-ahead run, the score remained the same. At least in that moment.

Patty Gasso asked for a review. Based on the replays, Parker did technically beat the throw before Roe came back down on the base. However, the umpire crew got together and let Gasso know the call was upheld. The issue was Parker never touched first base.

Based on this angle from the third base side, Ella Parker never touched first base. Thus why I assume there was a meeting and the call was upheld. pic.twitter.com/ElXcKyIaJm

— Brady (@BradyVernon) March 3, 2024

Riassetto deserves her flowers, as does Louisiana as a team. Riassetto went the distance, kept her composure and Oklahoma’s lineup off-balanced for a chunk of the game. Most teams try to attack the Sooner’s lineup with multiple looks but Gerry Glasco stuck with her. We’ve seen other teams challenge Oklahoma, when things go wrong, they start to spiral. Louisiana got right back up and got it done.