Parker Named Finalist for Senior CLASS Award

NORMAN — Oklahoma pitcher Paige Parker has been chosen as one of 10 finalists for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award in college softball.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

An acronym for “Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School,” the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier this month. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 14. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners.

The Senior CLASS Award recipient for softball will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, May 31-June 6.

A three-time All-American, Parker has made 20 appearances in the circle for OU this season, currently holding a 17-1 record. Parker leads the nation with a 0.30 ERA through 92.1 innings pitched while holding her opponents to a .119 batting average. She has not allowed a run in her last 38 innings pitched and has surrendered just four earned runs all year. Additionally, her rate of hits allowed per seven innings (2.81) leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the nation while her total strikeouts (111) is second in the conference.

Parker owns 109 career wins, reaching the 100-win threshold on March 7 and leading all active Division I pitchers. After an impressive showing at No. 15 Baylor last weekend, Parker was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season and the USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week for the third time in her career.

Parker joins former Sooners Erin Miller (2016), Shelby Pendley (2015), Destinee Martinez (2014), Keilani Ricketts (2013), Jessica Shults (2013), Samantha Ricketts (2009) and Lauren Eckermann (2008) as OU's finalists for the Senior CLASS Award.

Named to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, Parker is majoring in Arts & Sciences Planned Program and has been named a CoSIDA Academic All-American twice.