Tag: Shannon Stile

Oklahoma softball seniors announce 2021 return

Giselle Juarez, Nicole Mendes and Shannon Saile officially announced their plans to return for the 2021 season via Twitter Thursday.

Oklahoma softball seniors Giselle Juarez, Nicole Mendes and Shannon Saile officially announced their plans to return for the 2021 season via Twitter Thursday.

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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No. 5 Oklahoma wins Courtyard Marriott Tournament

The Sooners exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to top Northwestern 5-1 and claim the Courtyard Marriott Tournament. 

For the first time since the 2019 World Series, Nicole Mendes stepped up to the plate with a chance to give Oklahoma the lead on Sunday.

The senior’s brace was the only indicator of a torn ACL last fall, as her swing was smooth early in her at bat.

On the fifth, she connected hard enough to ricochet the ball off the Northwestern first baseman’s glove. Mendes reach first safely, and freshman Kinzie Hansen streaked home to put the Sooners ahead 2-1.

Mendes was among the four Sooners with an RBI in the fifth inning Sunday, as they exploded for five runs in the inning to top Northwestern 5-1 and claim the Courtyard Marriott Tournament.

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a really hard process,” Mendes said after Sunday’s game. “I’ve had to learn a lot. Make a lot of adjustments and grow up as a person and as a player. But to be able to watch this team, as young as we are and as depleted as we are, watch us grow and work together… It’s been really fun to watch.”

Oklahoma’s weekend began with an 8-3 win over the very same team, as Lynnsie Elam finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s.

In their second game Friday, Elam, Eliyah Flores and Raylee Pogue all hit solo home runs in the third inning to push the Sooners past Abilene Christian 4-2.

The Sooners split Saturday’s games with North Texas, dropping the first game in a tight contest 4-3. The Mean Green out-hit the Sooners 9-8.

After suffering their fifth loss of the year, the Sooners turned around and smacked 17 hits in their second game against UNT. Eight different players finished with home runs in the contest.

On Sunday, Shannon Saile put together the Sooners most consistent pitching performance of the weekend, going all seven innings and striking out 10 different batters.

“Today was her best day, no doubt.” head coach Patty Gasso said after Saile’s performance Sunday. “Just really calm, very much in control. Much better job being ahead of hitters. We’ve got a lot of work to do and this team is ready to do it.”

Oklahoma now looks to a five-game home-stand that begins this Wednesday. The Sooners slate starts with Wichita State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and Mercer and Utah at 2:30 and 5 p.m. on Friday, respectively. They’ll finish their week with Murray State at 2:30 p.m. and Missouri State at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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