OU softball captain Kinzie Hansen 'ready to go' for Sooners' series at Texas

Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman

NORMAN — When Kinzie Hansen’s knee issues cropped back up again a few weeks ago, her first reaction was fear.

“I was a little bit scared,” the OU catcher and captain said. “It is my last year, so initially, the fear was the first response.”

But once it became apparent Hansen would be able to return this season and that initial fear was flushed, it was replaced by determination to return for the first weekend of April.

Hansen wanted another go against Texas.

The top-ranked Sooners (34-1, 12-0 Big 12) and No. 4 Longhorns open their critical three-game series at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Red and Charline McCombs Field. The opener will be televised on ESPNU.

The series then continues with the second game at 7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) and concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday (Longhorn Network).

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OU catcher Kinzie Hansen had this weekend's series circled as she worked her way back from a recent injury. The top-ranked Sooners play at Texas.
OU catcher Kinzie Hansen had this weekend's series circled as she worked her way back from a recent injury. The top-ranked Sooners play at Texas.

“This is the Red River Rivalry,” Hansen said. “I was going to be ready regardless of whether I was healthy or not. … It’s always a great game. It doesn’t matter, ever. I’m just really excited for the energy and the atmosphere because we will see them down the road as well. They are a top-ranked team. They’re either going to be at the World Series or we’ll see them down the road in postseason, so just really excited to see what this weekend looks like.”

Hansen made just one plate appearance in the series at Texas Tech from March 15-17, then one the next weekend against Baylor before gradually working back in last weekend at Kansas.

“She’s ready to go,” Sooners coach Patty Gasso said. “She’s ready to go.”

Hansen even returned briefly behind the plate in last weekend’s sweep.

Hansen started at designated hitter in Saturday’s finale, then caught the final inning in the Sooners’ 7-3 win.

“Catching for me is like riding a bike,” Hansen said. “It was just really good to get suited back up there and get comfortable again. I felt like I was getting some oil in my joints that inning. It was nice to be moving around again.”

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Oklahoma catcher Kinzie Hansen (9) celebrated scoring during an NCAA softball game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Miami University on opening day of Oklahoma softball stadium Love's Field in Norman, Okla., on Friday, March 1, 2024.
Oklahoma catcher Kinzie Hansen (9) celebrated scoring during an NCAA softball game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Miami University on opening day of Oklahoma softball stadium Love's Field in Norman, Okla., on Friday, March 1, 2024.

The Sooners and Longhorns met thrice in the 2022 Women’s College World Series, including in the Championship Series.

They also met last season in the Big 12 Tournament.

For OU, it’ll also be a rare opportunity to play in a hostile environment.

When the Sooners play on the road, they’re often followed by plenty of Sooners’ fans.

While there figures to still be a not-insignificant number of OU fans in Austin, the crowd figures to heavily favor the Longhorns.

“It’s fun to play in front of any kind of crowd whether they’re for you or against you,” Gasso said. “When you hear the sounds and excitement, it just kind of drives your adrenaline a bit. So they’re looking forward to it. It’s always going to be a very competitive, very intense-type game. There’s a lot of theatrics at times. There’s a lot going on. I think umpires have their hands full definitely. But it’s fun.”

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With Bedlam being played in Norman this season and without a marquee non-conference matchup scheduled this season in a true road environment, this weekend’s series will feature a different atmosphere than any OU has faced this season.

“It’s fun to play in those environments. It’s where your best memories come from,” Gasso said. “When you leave softball you don’t remember your run-rules, at least I don’t. You remember when your team is in the trenches together.”

That’s a big part of why Hansen wanted to return for the series.

“I’ve definitely heard my fair share of comments,” Hansen said of playing in road environments. “But I like getting rowdy a little bit. I like that back there, so it definitely goes both ways but I know that this 2024 team, we like getting a little bit rowdy, so it should be a lot of fun.”

No. 1 OU at No. 4 Texas

  • Game 1: 5:30 p.m. Friday (ESPNU)

  • Game 2: 7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

  • Game 3: 1 p.m. Sunday (LHN)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball captain Kinzie Hansen 'ready to go' for series at Texas

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