Parker, Alo Top-10 Finalists for Player of Year

NORMAN — Oklahoma pitcher Paige Parker and utility player Jocelyn Alo are among the top-10 finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, USA Softball announced Wednesday.

Oklahoma joins Florida and UCLA as the three programs with two student-athletes in the top 10 for the award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in NCAA Division I softball.

Parker is a three-time All-American at Oklahoma, holding 116 career wins to rank second in program history and lead all active Division I pitchers. The Independence, Mo., native currently holds a 0.85 ERA, including a 0.51 ERA in conference play this season, to rank fourth in the nation. She is holding opponents to a .142 batting average, registering one no-hitter, five shutouts and seven complete games. Additionally, she has 168 strikeouts to 30 walks on the year.

Alo currently leads the country in home runs (23) and home runs per game (0.46). She ranks fourth nationally in slugging (.964), fifth in RBIs per game (1.2) and eighth in RBIs (60) and total bases (67). Additionally, the Hauula, Hawaii, native finished conference play ranking first in the Big 12 in home runs (9), walks (17), runs scored (18), RBIs (25), total bases (46) and slugging percentage (.979) while finishing second in on-base percentage (.554).

Parker and Alo were also named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively, on Wednesday.

The top three finalists will be announced May 23, and the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 29.

Oklahoma alumna Keilani Ricketts was a two-time recipient of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.

The Sooners begin postseason play this week at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship on May 11-12 at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. OU will be the No. 1 seed and will face No. 4 Texas (2 p.m. CT) and No. 6 Iowa State (7:30 p.m. CT) during Friday's pool play.