Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens carried her team across the finish line, and the Volunteers handed Oklahoma its first series defeat of the season with a 5-3 victory. The No. 2-ranked Sooners were unable to cash in on Abigale Dayton’s leadoff walk in the fifth or her two-out single in the seventh.

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.

Oklahoma softball knew it had a challenge ahead when reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens rolled into town. In last week’s Lady Vols' win over Arkansas, Pickens set the record for fastest-recorded pitch in softball history when she was clocked at 78.