Oklahoma softball seniors Giselle Juarez, Nicole Mendes and Shannon Saile officially announced their plans to return for the 2021 season via Twitter Thursday.
#2021 pic.twitter.com/mSf49wC0bF
— nicole mendes (@nicole_mendes_) April 3, 2020
The Sooners posted a 20-4 in 2020 before the NCAA canceled all Division I and II spring sporting events for the remainder of the season, which included the remainder of Oklahoma’s softball season. On March 30, the NCAA granted all participants in the spring season one extra year of eligibility.
The only piece left to the puzzle for head coach Patty Gasso and Oklahoma was it’s three seniors officially announcing their return, which happened Thursday night.
Both Juarez and Mendes battled injury throughout most of the 2020 season. Mendes had just made her way back into the lineup after suffering a torn ACL in the fall with what would be only a few games remaining. Juarez, who led the Sooners in strikeouts in 2019, battled a shoulder injury. Coach Gasso alluded to the fact she wasn’t close to returning to the circle in late February.
Saile ended the season on a hot streak, posting several solid outings in the circle in the final games. She finished with 89 strikeouts and an 8-3 record.
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