Completed Event: Softball versus Oklahoma Christian on October 15, 2025
Final
Softball
vs Oklahoma Christian
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma
Ella Parker Named a TUCCI/NFCA DI Freshman of the Year Finalist
May 23, 2024 | Softball
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma freshman designated player Ella Parker has been named a finalist for the TUCCI/NFCA DI Freshman of the Year award, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Thursday.
Parker has enjoyed a phenomenal debut campaign with OU, slashing .413/.516/.747 for a 1.263 OPS in her freshman campaign, crushing 12 home runs and 14 doubles while ranking second among her teammates with 57 RBIs. The first-year Sooner leads the club with 15 stolen bases and a .565 weighted on-base average (wOBA) while landing second in runs driven in. Her 56 runs scored rank third while her .453 batting average vs. right-handed pitchers is first on the team.
The freshman has been one of Oklahoma's top threats with runners in scoring position, batting .429 with a 1.289 OPS in those situations.
Since its inception in 2014, the Tucci/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award has recognized the Nation's top freshman in several collegiate divisions. Paige Parker (2015), Jocelyn Alo (2018), Tiare Jennings (2021) and Jordy Bahl (2022) each won the award in their debut season with the Sooners. No other NCAA program has had more than one winner. Ella Parker joins the four prior Sooner winners along with Jayda Coleman (2021) and Shay Knighten (2016) as the seventh OU player to be named a finalist.
OU's talented middle-of-the-order bat is joined by Florida State's Jaysoni Beachum and Florida's Keagan Rothrock as the three finalists for the award. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 28 prior to the start of the 2024 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma Softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.
Parker has enjoyed a phenomenal debut campaign with OU, slashing .413/.516/.747 for a 1.263 OPS in her freshman campaign, crushing 12 home runs and 14 doubles while ranking second among her teammates with 57 RBIs. The first-year Sooner leads the club with 15 stolen bases and a .565 weighted on-base average (wOBA) while landing second in runs driven in. Her 56 runs scored rank third while her .453 batting average vs. right-handed pitchers is first on the team.
The freshman has been one of Oklahoma's top threats with runners in scoring position, batting .429 with a 1.289 OPS in those situations.
Since its inception in 2014, the Tucci/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award has recognized the Nation's top freshman in several collegiate divisions. Paige Parker (2015), Jocelyn Alo (2018), Tiare Jennings (2021) and Jordy Bahl (2022) each won the award in their debut season with the Sooners. No other NCAA program has had more than one winner. Ella Parker joins the four prior Sooner winners along with Jayda Coleman (2021) and Shay Knighten (2016) as the seventh OU player to be named a finalist.
OU's talented middle-of-the-order bat is joined by Florida State's Jaysoni Beachum and Florida's Keagan Rothrock as the three finalists for the award. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 28 prior to the start of the 2024 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma Softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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OF
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INF
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UTL
/ SoftballSB Highlights: OU 22, East Texas A&M 0
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Gasso, Landry, Parker, Barker, Dayton, Sanders Postgame vs Texas Tech
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SB WCWS Highlights: OU 4, Oregon 1
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Gasso, Sanders, Emerling, Landry Postgame vs Oregon
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