Completed Event: Softball at #12/14 Texas A&M on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 8
Final
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at #12/14 Texas A&M
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Scouting Report: Outfielders
February 08, 2016 | Softball
This is the third in a three-part series previewing the 2016 Oklahoma softball team. Part one on pitchers and catchers and part two on the infield were each released last week.
Losing only one player from a year ago, the Oklahoma outfield has the lowest amount of turnover compared to the other two position groups entering 2016.
While there is still plenty of healthy competition for the three outfield spots, it appears that favorites have emerged at each position with sophomores Lea Wodach and Nicole Pendley and freshman Fale Aviu. Senior Erin Miller is also in the mix, though Gasso is planning on utilizing her in the designated player role, as well as the outfield.
Wodach looks to be the favorite in left field. She played in 45 games a year ago with 20 starts at multiple positions, including 10 as designated player, eight at catcher and two in right field. She hit five home runs and three doubles in just 74 at-bats for a .541 slugging percentage while hitting .297 with a .341 on-base percentage.
“Lea Wodach right now is really showing well; she showed well in the fall, too,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “Offensively she's doing her thing, but defensively in left field she is outstanding. She has got a really quick release, good strong arm, and her catching skills have helped her to transfer that into the outfield.”
After starting 54 games in center field last season, Pendley looks to man the position once again in 2016. She capped a stellar freshman season by being named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team and earning second-team all-region honors.
“Nicole Pendley is really anchoring down center field and really becoming one of the best center fielders we've had in this program in a long time,” Gasso said. “She has great speed and good recognition of angles to balls but also a very good strong arm.”
Pendley batted .364 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 2015. She hit eight doubles, stole eight bases and walked 23 times for a slugging mark of .552 and an OBP of .450. Defensively, she led OU's outfielders with three assists.
Aviu was chosen as the 2013-14 San Diego Softball Athlete of the Year by the San Diego Union-Tribune and the 2014 All-State Under Classman by CalHiSports. She also spent four years playing for the OC Batbusters in Anaheim, Calif., and helped lead the team to the 2014 PGF 18U Premier National Championship.
“In right field I've got Fale Aviu out there who also came to us as an outfielder,” Gasso noted. “She is learning a lot, but her offense is making it a point that we have to keep her in.”
Miller earned first-team all-region honors and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2015. She posted a career-best .409 batting average and led the team with nine stolen bases and six triples. She finished 13th nationally and led the Big 12 with her triples total.
Oklahoma's regular center fielder in 2015, sophomore Nicole Pendley is expected to assume the role again this year.
The Tulsa, Okla., native set career highs in several other offensive categories, including runs (56), hits (63), doubles (9), home runs (8), RBI (52), slugging (.701) and OBP (.508).
“Erin Miller will be working in the outfield but I'm also looking at her to fill a DP role, as well,” Gasso said. “You'll see her in and out of the outfield depending on who is on the mound.”
Also expected to see time in the outfield are senior Tori Nirschl and freshmen Raegan Rogers and Kylie Lundberg.
The 2015 season was the first for Nirschl at OU after she spent her first two seasons at Pitt. She appeared in 48 games a year ago with 13 starts (seven at DP, four in right field). Nirschl hit .368 with 22 runs scored, two home runs, five doubles and 10 RBI to go along with a .561 slugging percentage and .478 OBP.
A native of Blanchard, Okla., Rogers was named her team's Offensive Player of the Year every season at Bridge Creek High School. She hit .620 in her senior season with 53 runs scored, 38 RBI, six home runs and 36 stolen bases to be named to the Middle West All-State Team and All-Region First Team.
Lundberg was called “arguably the most feared hitter in the Long Beach Area” by the Press Telegram in being named their Player of the Year. Hailing from Lakewood, Calif., she posted a .471 batting average in her senior season along with a .950 slugging percentage, 11 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 50 RBI.
“Raegan Rogers is somebody that will potentially work to help us in the outfield, but looking for her more to really cause some havoc on the base paths,” Gasso said. “I've also moved Kylie Lundberg out to the outfield to help her strengthen her arm and give her a chance to learn another position.”
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/ SoftballSunday, May 24
Saturday, May 23
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
