The Big 12 is off to a strong start to the 2024. The newest set of rankings from D1 Softball has four Big 12 programs in the Top 25, including Oklahoma and Texas at #1 and #2, as well as Oklahoma State at #9. Baylor is checking in this week at #19.
Still though, Oklahoma sits not only atop its conference but also the nation. It’s been exactly one year since the Sooners lost a softball game and they find themselves as the unanimous top team in the country while riding their 62-game winning streak. As for the rest of the conference, here’s how Oklahoma stacks up statistically.
Batting Average – Sooners Are Currently Fifth In The Big 12
I know it sounds crazy. We’re used to Patty Gasso’s teams batting through the order with regularity. The Sooners are still hitting the ball at a crazy clip, it’s just that other Big 12 schools are doing the same thing.
| Big 12 Batting | Team | AVG | G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | .415 | 7 |
| 2 | Houston | .389 | 10 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | .370 | 8 |
| 4 | UCF | .362 | 8 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | .346 | 9 |
| 6 | Iowa State | .319 | 9 |
| 7 | BYU | .314 | 10 |
| 8 | Kansas | .307 | 10 |
| 9 | Baylor | .263 | 6 |
| 10 | Texas Tech | .257 | 10 |
Worth Noting: Oklahoma is tied with Texas for the most home runs in the Big 12 (14) and the Sooners are second in the conference in drawing walks (39). Iowa State has the most free passes with a total of 46 on the season.
Best On The Team: Alyssa Brito has been Oklahoma’s top hitter through the first two weekends of the season. She’s posting a .417 batting average (4 HR/9 RBI) which places her 19th in the conference among batters with 16 or more plate appearances. Brito’s four home runs place her in a 4-way tie for the most in the Big 12. Teammate Tiare Jennings (.407 BA) is also included in that tie. Brito’s 9 RBI place her just outside of the Top 10 in the conference at #12.
Pitching
Oklahoma and Texas are the only two undefeated teams in the conference. Their pitching is a key factor as to why. It’s also why you’ll find them ranked #1 and #2 nationally. The Sooners are holding an ERA that’s well under 1.00 and while the Longhorns are north of that mark, they’re still only at an impressive 1.17.
| Big 12 Pitching | Team | ERA | W-L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 0.50 | 9-0 |
| 2 | Texas | 1.17 | 7-0 |
| 3 | Houston | 2.37 | 9-1 |
| 4 | BYU | 2.61 | 8-2 |
| 5 | Baylor | 2.63 | 3-3 |
| 6 | Oklahoma State | 2.90 | 6-2 |
| 7 | Texas Tech | 2.94 | 7-3 |
| 8 | UCF | 3.08 | 6-2 |
| 9 | Kansas | 3.23 | 4-5 |
| 10 | Iowa State | 5.72 | 6-3 |
Worth Noting: Oklahoma only has two recorded saves this season, but that’s enough to place them with the second most in the conference. Baylor and UCF are tied with three. The Sooners have given up the third fewest hits in the Big 12 with 29. Texas has only allowed 25 and Baylor has allowed 27. OU has only allowed one home run on the season which has them standing alone as the fewest in the conference. With 56 strikeouts, OU has produced the second most in the conference. BYU has produced 68 strikeouts.
Best On The Team: Nicole May is the only pitcher in the Big 12 to have started multiple games and still post a 0.00 ERA. Fellow Sooner pitcher Karlie Keeney also has a 0.00 ERA but has only made one start. They’re the only two hurlers with a perfect ERA in the conference. Kelly Maxwell has a 0.50 ERA and is third in the Big 12 behind May and Keeney. May’s 17 strikeouts ranks her 9th in the conference. Maxwell (14 innings pitched) has only allowed two walks on the season which is the third fewest in the conference. Citlaly Gutierrez (Texas) has not allowed a free base on the season (14 innings pitched) and Angelina DeVoe (UCF) has only allowed one (11.2 innings pitched).
Fielding
Overall the Big 12 is playing some fantastic defense to start the season. However, no one is doing it better than the Sooners. If you’re looking for an edge over the other two top teams in the conference it’s in both pitching and hitting. The Sooners are pacing the field in both of those categories.
| Index | Team | FLD% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 0.991 |
| 2 | UCF | 0.986 |
| 3 | BYU | 0.978 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | 0.977 |
| 5 | Houston | 0.977 |
| 6 | Texas | 0.968 |
| 7 | Kansas | 0.964 |
| 8 | Baylor | 0.962 |
| 9 | Texas Tech | 0.960 |
| 10 | Iowa State | 0.956 |
Worth Noting: The Sooners have committed the fewest errors in the Big 12 with just two. Oklahoma has turned the second most double plays in the conference with five. Baylor has eight.
Best On The Team: Right now there are 30 players in the Big 12 with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Among those are Oklahoma’s Cydney Sanders, Tiare Jennings, Riley Ludlam, and Avery Hodge. Sanders and Jennings have each been involved in four double plays. They are in a tie for the third most in the conference. Shaylon Govan (Baylor) has been involved in six and Amber Toven (Baylor) has been involved in five.
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