Oklahoma Sooners Softball – Syndication Server

Sooner Nation pays respects, mourns the loss of Toby Keith

In the wake of the passing of Toby Keith, Oklahoma Sooners fans and players pay their respects to the Country Music and OU Icon.

The world lost an icon Monday night with the passing of country music star and Oklahoma Sooners super fan Toby Keith.

Keith, who’d been battling stomach cancer, passed away at the age of 62. His departure leaves a significant hole in the OU community as Keith was a proud supporter of all things Oklahoma Athletics.

A statement posted early Tuesday on Keith’s social media read, “Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”

From his presence on the sidelines at OU Football games to partying with OU Softball after they won their third-straight national title, Toby Keith was a fixture in the OU community decades and made an impact that will leave a legacy in Oklahoma.

This loss will be felt by everyone involved with the Oklahoma Sooners. Administrators, coaches, players, and fans were all impacted by the life and presence of Toby Keith. Social media was flooded by members of the OU community paying their respects to the country music icon.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends and pray for comfort and peace during this time.

Oklahoma Softball announces stadium capacity for Love’s Field

University of Oklahoma announced seating capacity for Love’s Field that’s set to open in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners softball team has created a dynasty and now are on the verge of beginning play in a state-of-the-art softball facility during the 2024 season.

On Friday, the University of Oklahoma announced the final seating capacities for Love’s Field.

“Since the start, we’ve approached the design of Love’s Field with our fans in mind,” said athletic director [autotag]Joe Castiglione[/autotag] in the OU Athletic Department’s release. “Because we know the demand for OU Softball is sky high, we took great care to increase the capacity wherever we could while maintaining the overall fan experience. We’re thrilled with the results, as we’ve shattered our original expected capacity of about 3,000, now with 3,543 in fixed seating and an additional 657 in standing room. At every home game, we’ll now have the opportunity for more than 4,000 Sooner fans to cheer our team to victory in the biggest and best collegiate softball stadium in the country.”

Marita Hynes Field currently runs with a seated capacity of 1,378. Including standing room capabilities, Love’s Field will triple the attendance capabilities for Oklahoma Softball in the future.

Led by head coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners have won three straight national championships and six of the last 10 titles. She’s led Oklahoma to seven overall. That success has helped create an incredible buzz surrounding the sport of softball across the country.

“When we were standing above the outfield looking toward home plate, we were in awe,” said Gasso during a tour of the construction site. “It was hard to comprehend the beauty and scope of what we were looking at, considering where we played when I started coaching here. I stood there and reflected on all my years at OU and all the athletes who laid the foundation for this program. I’m reminded of where we started this journey whenever I drive by Reaves Park. Then we stepped across the street to Marita Hynes Field. And now we’re on the cusp of having Love’s Field — the premier college softball facility in the country — as our home. I’m so grateful for everyone who helped us get to this point, and am incredibly excited for what’s still to come.”

The Oklahoma Sooners are expecting to begin play at Love’s Field during the 2024 season.

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Plans call for the overall square footage of the complex to reach 44,000, compared to 15,168 at Marita Hynes Field, OU’s present facility. The team areas will expand from 2,598 square feet to 5,593 square feet and the indoor practice facility will jump from 4,744 square feet to 10,669 square feet.

The Love’s Field seat-selection process for the 2024 softball season will resume in November with those in Groups 2 and 3 whose assigned selection time was not initially available during the first phase of the selection process this summer.

Seats will be selected via an online Love’s Field seat map. Groups 2 and 3 members whose assigned selection time was not available during the first phase of the selection process will be assigned a selection time in which they can view inventory and make seat selections as availability allows. Available seat locations are in the outfield reserved sections and require paying only the annual season ticket cost. To maximize capacity of Love’s Field, some sections in the outfield have been altered since the original selection process. Those who previously selected seats in these locations that may be impacted by this adjustment will be contacted prior to the selection process resuming in November.

Supporters in both groups will be ranked via Sooner Points associated with their OU Athletics account. Sooner Points accumulate for OU Athletics lifetime season ticket purchases, seat-related giving history and attendance. Assigned selection times and instructions will be provided via email to account holders prior to the start of the November selection process. Groups 2 and 3 are not guaranteed the opportunity to purchase season tickets, as seat locations throughout Love’s Field are subject to availability and the selections made by those with earlier assigned times.

Fans in Groups 2 and 3 who have do not receive seat-selection information via email today can contact the Sooner Club at 405-325-8000.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Oklahoma State pitcher Kelly Maxwell to join the Oklahoma Sooners per report

According to a report from Extra Inning Softball, the Oklahoma Sooners are adding Oklahoma State ace Kelly Maxwell via the transfer portal.

Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma Sooners made another splash in the transfer portal, according to a report Thursday morning.

Extra Inning Softball’s Brentt Eads is reporting that Oklahoma State ace pitcher [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] is heading to Oklahoma via the transfer portal.

In the wake of Jordy Bahl’s departure to Nebraska, the Sooners have been active in the portal, adding pitchers [autotag]Peytn Monticelli[/autotag] and [autotag]Karlie Keeney[/autotag]. In Maxwell, the Sooners get another experienced arm that has been one of the best in college softball over the last several years.

Maxwell has been named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week six times in her career. Along with Bahl, Maxwell was named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2022.

She holds a career record of 58-20 and an ERA of 1.58.

Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso hinted at the addition of Maxwell on Wednesday night.

GO B💣💣MER!!!!

— Patty Gasso (@GassoPatty) August 3, 2023

“This was not an easy decision but one that I felt was best, for my own personal happiness,” Maxwell wrote last month about her decision to transfer “Thank you for being there and supporting me as I made some of the best memories of my life.”

She joins a pitching staff that includes [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], [autotag]S.J. Guerin[/autotag], Monticelli, and Keeney to fortify the Sooners in the circle as they attempt to defend their national championship three-peat.

Here’s a look at the best pictures of Kelly Maxwell’s time with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Oklahoma Sooners add Liberty transfer pitcher Karlie Keeney

The Oklahoma Sooners added another arm to their pitching arsenal earning a commitment from Liberty transfer Karlie Keeney.

The Oklahoma Sooners added another arm to their pitching staff via the transfer portal. Though some other names have received a lot of buzz, [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] and [autotag]Jennifer Rocha[/autotag] are bringing in Liberty transfer pitcher Karlie Keeney. Keeney announced her commitment to Oklahoma via Instagram.

As a junior in 2023, Keeney was an iron woman for the Flames, appearing in 48 games and throwing 261.2 innings. She was 27-12 with a 2.03 ERA and an opponents batting average of .229. Keeney threw 27 complete games, including five shutouts last season to help lead Liberty to the NCAA tournament.

Beyond the stat line, the name might be familiar. In Oklahoma’s second game of the 2023 season, Keeney shut out the Sooners for seven innings before allowing the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth inning when Jordy Bahl scored from second on an error.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CusMQwpOVzZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

On the season, Liberty ranked 105th in fielding percentage, committing 66 errors. For reference, the Oklahoma Sooners led the nation in fielding percentage, committing 19 errors on the year.

Keeney’s other most memorable start on the year came in the NCAA tournament, where again she was put to work. After losing to San Diego State (a game Keeney didn’t start), the Flames drew the unfortunate task of facing the UCLA Bruins in the losers’ bracket. Keeney was up to the task.

After allowing a solo home run to open the game to Megan Grant, Keeney settled in to shut the Bruins down. She scattered six more hits and allowed one walk the rest of the way to eliminate the No. 2 nationally seeded Bruins from the NCAA tournament.

She kept Liberty’s season alive with another one-run performance over seven innings against Grand Canyon before the Flames were eliminated by San Diego State in the final of the Los Angeles Regional.

So against Oklahoma and UCLA, the two teams that were ranked one and two for a vast majority of the 2023 season, Keeney allowed two runs, one earned, in 14 innings of work.

Keeney ranked No. 50 in D1Softball’s top 100, and here’s what they had to say.

Keeney was a true workhorse for Liberty. Her 261.2 innings pitched was the second-most in the entire nation. That translated into 27 wins last season, including victories against Alabama, Clemson and UCLA. Keeney’s heavy screwball and curveball approach led to a 52 percent groundball rate. Keeney is currently searching for her home for her last season via the transfer portal. – Brady Vernon, D1Softball

Keeney is an experienced starter that will benefit from not having to throw so many innings in Oklahoma’s rotation. [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] has worked to create a pitching system that minimizes the workload on her starters to keep them fresh later into the season and prepared for the NCAA tournament.

Oklahoma has a pitching rotation that can go four deep with [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], [autotag]Peytn Monticelli[/autotag] and Karlie Keeney. Oklahoma also has [autotag]S.J. Guerin[/autotag] who can operate in the relief role Deal did in 2023.

Though the Sooners add an experienced arm in Keeney, it shouldn’t necessarily take them out of the mix for pitchers [autotag]Alana Vawter[/autotag] or [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag]. While Monticelli, Deal and Guerin all have really good upside, the experience and success that Vawter and Maxwell bring to the table is some of the best in the country.

But, if the Sooners don’t look to add another arm to their pitching staff, they’ll be in great shape to defend their national title in 2024.

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Oklahoma Sooners should look to add Oklahoma State transfer Kelly Maxwell

Oklahoma Sooners should look to add Oklahoma State Cowgirls transfer ace Kelly Maxwell.

If Jordy Bahl’s departure via the transfer portal wasn’t stunning enough, Oklahoma State Cowgirls’ ace Kelly Maxwell announced via Instagram on Friday morning that she was looking for a new opportunity via the portal.

It’s a stunning move after four years in Stillwater, but as a graduate transfer, Maxwell has the opportunity to continue her career in a new locale.

“This was not an easy decision but one that I felt was best, for my own personal happiness,” Maxwell wrote. “Thank you for being there and supporting me as I made some of the best memories of my life.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuZyy9vL3Z9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson had this to say about the stunning development: “Shocking because she has been Oklahoma State softball’s ace for three years. Shocking, too, because of the timing; it’s been a month since her season was over.”

Maxwell was one of five unanimous All-Big 12 first-team selections in 2023, joining former Sooner Bahl and Sooners’ stars Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman and Baylor’s Shaylon Govan.

One would think it improbable for the Oklahoma Sooners to add someone from across the Bedlam rivalry lines. However, Trace Ford broke the ice this offseason when the defensive end transferred from Oklahoma State to Oklahoma. Making the jump as well was guard Lexy Keys, who, after playing in 71 games with 32 starts, opted for the Crimson and Cream in the transfer portal.

Maxwell is one of college softball’s best pitchers. She’s a six-time recipient of Big 12 Pitcher of the Week and was the 2022 Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year. She had a bit of a down year in 2023, finishing with an ERA of 1.91 and a 16-7 record. This after posting a record of 21-5 in 2022 with an ERA of 1.21 with 313 strikeouts.

In her career, she’s thrown 746 strikeouts and has a career ERA of 1.58 across nearly 500 innings of work.

While the Oklahoma Sooners have [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] returning and Patty Gasso is high on [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], they’ve been active in the portal this offseason in their attempts to add talent in the circle. They brought in [autotag]Peytn Monticelli[/autotag] after her true freshman year for Wisconsin.

But if 2023 showed us anything, you can never have enough good arms in college softball. It certainly made a huge difference in the Sooners’ record-breaking winning streak and third straight national championship.

Maxwell will be someone that every team in the nation will want to add. You can bet as soon as her name officially hit the portal, either Patty Gasso or pitching coach Jennifer Rocha was in contact.

As the Sooners head into 2024 looking to extend their winning streak and run their national championship run to four straight, adding a talent of Maxwell’s experience and talent would be huge for Oklahoma.

Here’s a look at the best pictures of Kelly Maxwell’s time with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Jordy Bahl is taking her talents to the Nebraska Cornhuskers

After two years at Oklahoma and two national championships, superstar pitcher Jordy Bahl is taking her talents to Nebraska.

The softball world was shaken on Monday when Jordy Bahl announced she would enter the transfer portal out of a desire to return to her home state of Nebraska.

A few days later, the game’s best pitcher has found her new home. Bahl announced she’ll continue her softball career with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

It’s a landscape-changing move that bolsters the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ national title aspirations.

After 2 years of wonderful memories, I’m excited for 2 more representing the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This state, these people, and this N are all things I’m excited, proud, and thankful to be a part of. @HuskerSoftball pic.twitter.com/TctJwJgik3

— Jordyn Bahl (@jordybahl) June 15, 2023

The Cornhuskers reached the NCAA tournament in 2023, but were eliminated in the Stillwater regional after losing 6-5 to Wichita State in the opener and 5-2 to Oklahoma State in the regional final.

Nebraska ranked No. 148 in the nation in team ERA in 2023, but was 70th in runs per game this season. Their top two pitchers, Sarah Harness and Courtney Wallace, each had an ERA above 3.4.

The addition of Bahl and her career ERA of less than 1 gives the Cornhuskers a boost that could push them into Women’s College World Series contention. Nebraska finished fourth in the Big Ten in 2023, but with the addition of Bahl it will be a conference title contender in 2024.

It’s a big addition for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and a great spot for Bahl to land to be closer to family and in her home state. On Monday, the former Sooner stated, “I am excited thinking about growing the game that has provided me so many opportunities for growth in the home state, a current overlooked state for girls in softball at all ages, and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began.”

Softball has seen tremendous growth in the United States over the last two decades, and Jordy Bahl has been a huge part in its growth over the last two years. The move to Nebraska gives the sport and the broadcast partners another team with a superstar talent to build the product around.

She’ll be missed at Oklahoma but will still be must-see television with the Cornhuskers. Here’s a look at how social media reacted to the news.

Jordy Bahl leaves Oklahoma with a lasting legacy in Norman and on the game

Jordy Bahl’s two years in Norman left a lasting impact on the Oklahoma Sooners and elevated softball to greater heights.

The transfer portal has opened the door for more player movement than ever before, and the Oklahoma Sooners have benefitted greatly from the portal. Whether it’s their Heisman-winning quarterbacks or the additions on the diamond, the Sooners have welcomed a lot of talent through the portal over the years.

Well, Monday marked arguably the University of Oklahoma’s biggest loss to the portal in star pitcher Jordy Bahl. Bahl announced via social media that she was entering the portal. Citing a desire to be close to family and raise the profile of softball in the state of Nebraska, Bahl is heading home.

Though she was in Norman for just two years, her legacy is cemented as one of the greatest to ever grace Marita Hynes Field for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Jordy Bahl was one of the two best pitchers in the sport in 2023, and after her run in the NCAA tournament and after outdueling NiJaree Canady, it’s easy to argue that she was the best pitcher in softball. It’s just a bummer that her time in Norman has come to an end.

But her departure doesn’t negate the impact she made and the legend she created.

Not only was she really good at what she did, her passion and ferocity in the circle made for incredible television. Bahl made a habit of turning it up a notch when opponents had runners on base and threatened to score. Regularly, she would find a way to work out of a jam and keep the opposition off the board.

The last three months of the season saw one of the more dominant runs the sport has ever seen, as she allowed just five runs in more than 100 innings of work from March 14 to the end of the season. That includes allowing just one run in the NCAA tournament and blanking all comers in the Women’s College World Series.

Back in 2022, Bahl earned the NFCA Freshman of the Year, was a two-time All-Big 12 selection, two-time All-American, and two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Year recipient. In her time with the Sooners, bahl threw a pair of perfect games. One in 2022 against Cal State Fullerton and one in 2023 against Southeastern Louisiana. In 2022, she set a freshman record for strikeouts with 16 against Tennessee.

In her two seasons, Bahl threw 26 complete games, 15 shutouts, and recorded 397 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .145 batting average in 2022 and .160 in 2023. She had a record of 44-2 in two seasons to help lead Oklahoma to national titles in both seasons in Norman.

Jordy Bahl’s departure will be felt. She was a beloved teammate. Simply go back and watch the embrace between Bahl and battery mate Kinzie Hansen when they clinched the national championship.

Look at the reactions from her teammates in the wake of her announcement on Twitter.

Current and former #Sooners teammates of Jordy Bahl wishing her well as she leaves Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/DJPxhSV6hK

— Summer of George (@GeorgeStoia) June 12, 2023

She did great things at Oklahoma and will no doubt do great things at her next landing spot. Jordy Bahl’s mark on the sport of softball is indelible. Whatever the future holds, she’ll have left a lasting impression in Norman and in the sport of softball with the passion and joy that she plays with.

Here’s a look back at some of the best photos of Jordy Bahl’s time with the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma’s Sophia Nugent enters the transfer portal

Oklahoma’s Sophia Nugent is entering the transfer portal.

In the wake of Jordy Bahl’s decision to enter the transfer portal, sophomore Sophia Nugent has also decided to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Nugent, who started 18 games for the Sooners in 2023, was a regular part of the lineup when the Sooners were missing Kinzie Hansen and Grace Lyons. Over the first month of the season, she hit better than .400.

Overall this season, Nugent, hit .274 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. She appeared in 50 games and had a big-time sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third, which led to an insurance run, in the deciding game of the Women’s College World Series finals.

pic.twitter.com/J4gz9Ojw3L

— Sophia Nugent (@SophiaN2021) June 12, 2023

“For the last two years, I have had a wonderful time in Norman at the University of Oklahoma. It has been an honor to play for and learn from Coach Gasso, Coach Rocha, and Coach JT.

“I want to thank my teammates for two amazing seasons together and who have become lifelong friends.

“Thank you Jackie, Kylie, Brady, Toby, and all the support staff for everything they do. To the Sooner fans, I appreciate you for making me feel so welcome and loved.

“I have had a wonderful time in Norman, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to play for the University of Oklahoma. I am excited for what the future holds.”

Nugent enters the transfer portal with two more years of eligibility remaining. She was the No. 3 player in the 2021 class according to Extra Inning Softball and Softball America. She is from Seal Beach, California, which is part of the metropolitan Los Angeles area.

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Twitter reacts to Jordy Bahl’s decision to enter the transfer portal

Social media reacts to the news that Jordy Bahl is leaving the Oklahoma Sooners via the transfer portal.

In a stunning move that sent shock waves through collegiate softball, Jordy Bahl announced she was entering the transfer portal.

The decision comes less than a week after Bahl helped Oklahoma secure its seventh national championship and third straight while capping a 61-1 season. Bahl was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament after allowing one run throughout the postseason.

The move changes the landscape of college softball. Bahl would be a welcome addition to every team in the country, and the program that brings her in, immediately becomes a national title contender.

In the wake of the surprising news, here’s how the softball world reacted on Twitter.