The Big 12 conference race just got even tighter after a dramatic weekend series in Austin. Here’s an updated look at how the conference stacks up, with a shakeup at the top based on recent head-to-head matchups:
1. Oklahoma State (33-6, 12-3): The Cowgirls make a jump to the top spot this week, after Oklahoma fell to Texas. They boast a balanced attack and a strong pitching staff, making them a serious threat for the Big 12 title.
2. Texas (31-6, 11-4): Despite a series win over Oklahoma, the Longhorns only climb to number due to their series loss to Oklahoma State. Their pitching staff remains dominant, and their offense is finally clicking. Texas is still a legitimate contender.
3. Oklahoma (35-3, 13-2): The Sooners take a tumble to number three after dropping a tough series to Texas. However, they still hold the best record in the conference and boast the nation’s top hitter. A series win over Oklahoma State later this month could propel them back to the top spot.
4. Kansas (25-12-1, 10-5): The Jayhawks remain at number four, continuing to be a pleasant surprise with their potent offense.
5. UCF (21-15, 7-8): The Knights have been a disappointment this season after being picked to contend for the conference title. Their offense has sputtered at times, and their pitching staff has been inconsistent.
6. Baylor (21-14, 5-10): The Bears have been up and down this season but are still a dangerous team. Their offense can erupt at any time, and they have a solid pitching staff. Baylor needs to find more consistency to make a serious run at the conference title.
7. BYU (21-16, 4-11): The Cougars are a scrappy team that can be tough to beat at home. They have a balanced offense and a decent pitching staff. However, they lack the firepower to compete with the top teams in the conference.
8. Texas Tech (24-12, 4-8): The Red Raiders have been inconsistent this season but they also have the potential to be dangerous. They have a talented offense and a solid pitching staff. However, they need to find a way to win close games.
9. Iowa State (13-21, 3-9): The Cyclones have struggled this season but are capable of pulling off upsets. They have a young team that is gaining valuable experience.
10. Houston (22-17, 3-12): The Cougars have struggled this season, especially in conference play. Their offense has been inconsistent, and their pitching staff has been shaky. Houston will need a major turnaround to make the Big 12 Tournament.
How Oklahoma Compares Against The Big 12
Batting
Despite dropping the series at Texas, Oklahoma remains the top hitting team in the Big 12 and it’s really not even that close.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OKLAHOMA | .382 |
| 2 | TEXAS | .363 |
| 3 | BYU | .331 |
| 4 | TEXAS TECH | .316 |
| 5 | OKLAHOMA STATE | .315 |
| 6 | HOUSTON | .314 |
| 7 | UCF | .313 |
| 8 | BAYLOR | .286 |
| 9 | IOWA STATE | .275 |
| 10 | KANSAS | .272 |
Worth Noting: Oklahoma leads the Big 12 in home runs with 80. The next closest to the program is Oklahoma State with 62.
Best on the Team: Jayda Coleman leads Oklahoma with a .449 batting average. She’s knocked nine home runs this season and brought in 31 RBI, while scoring 46 runs herself.
Pitching
Oklahoma remains the top pitching staff in the conference, holding a slight edge over Texas.
| RANK | TEAM | ERA |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OKLAHOMA | 1.47 |
| 2 | TEXAS | 1.50 |
| 3. | OKLAHOMA STATE | 1.70 |
| 4 | KANSAS | 2.73 |
| 5 | BAYLOR | 2.88 |
| 6 | UCF | 3.17 |
| 7 | TEXAS TECH | 4.61 |
| 8 | BYU | 4.94 |
| 9 | HOUSTON | 5.51 |
| 10 | IOWA STATE | 5.53 |
Worth Noting: The Sooners have three pitchers ranked in the Top SIx of the Big 12, in ERA. Karlie Keeney is #3, Kelly Maxwell is #5 and Nicole May is #6.
Best on the Team: Keeney’s ERA is 1.08 on the season. She’s fanned a total of 22 batters and has built a 4-1 record.
Fielding
Oklahoma’s fielding percentage dropped a little from last week. They’re still the top defensive team in the conference but UCF is really pushing them.
| RANK | TEAM | FLD% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OKLAHOMA | 0.986 |
| 2 | UCF | 0.980 |
| 3 | OKLAHOMA STATE | 0.979 |
| 4 | TEXAS TECH | 0.970 |
| 5 | BAYLOR | 0.970 |
| 6 | HOUSTON | 0.969 |
| 7 | KANSAS | 0.966 |
| 8 | BYU | 0.964 |
| 9 | TEXAS | 0.963 |
| 10 | IOWA STATE | 0.951 |
Worth Noting: The Sooners played error-free ball last week and have committed the fewest errors in the Big 12 with thirteen.
Best on the Team: Riley Ludlam and Alynah Torres both are boasting perfect fielding percentages.
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