Experience
Last season was considered to be a rebuilding year for the Sooners. They lost an incredible senior class and replaced them with eight freshmen. Those underclassmen led Oklahoma to its third national championship.
The Sooners return six of seven 2016 All-Big 12 selections and seven of eight All-Region honorees. Those honorees include Paige Parker (Big 12 Pitcher of the Year), Shay Knighten (Big 12 Freshman of the Year) and Kelsey Arnold (Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Out of last year’s starting nine, they only lost two. This year’s roster only has one senior.
Coaching
The 2016 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Patty Gasso returns for her 23rd season in Norman. She has led the Sooners to the postseason every year and the Women’s College World Series 10 times. Her record at Oklahoma is 1085-313-2. In addition, she has won more Big 12 games than any other coach in conference history.
Pitching
Two-time All-American Paige Parker finished last season 38-3 with a 1.64 earned run average. The left-hander gave up 68 walks while striking out 269 in 252.1 innings pitched. As a sophomore, she led the nation in wins and was second in shutouts (14). She was also named Most Outstanding Player at the 2016 WCWS.
Paige Lowary will be another lefty on the pitching staff this year after transferring from Mizzou. Last season, she finished 25-8 with a 3.25 earned run average. Her 25 victories ranked second in the SEC. Lowary also became the first pitcher in NCAA history to win three run-rule games in a regional.
Defense
Junior shortstop Kelsey Arnold is expected to continue her excellent defensive play this season. She was named the 2016 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-Region and was named to the 2015 All-Big 12 Defensive Team as a freshman. She started all 65 games at shortstop last season and finished with a .981 fielding percentage. In her career, she has a .983 fielding percentage.
Offense
The starting nine last season all finished with batting averages .315 or higher. Knighten led the offense with a .397 average with 13 homeruns and 62 runs batted in. As a freshman, she had 179 at bats and struck out 23 times. Arnold (.382), Fale Aviu (.355), Caleigh Clifton (.351), Sydney Romero (.346), Nicole Pendley (.321) and Lea Wodach (.315) are all returning. Clifton led the team in on base percentage (.540) and Romero was second in homeruns (10). As a team, the Sooners hit for a team average of .351, 70 homeruns and 396 RBI.
