Upcoming Event: Softball versus Battle Series - 1 on October 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Softball
vs Battle Series - 1
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Thursday, April 3
7 p.m.
University of Oklahoma
vs
St. Thomas
Photo by: Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma
No. 3 Softball Hosts St. Thomas and UCF for Okana Invitational
April 03, 2025 | Softball
Live Stats (St. Thomas)Live Stats (Friday)Live Stats (Saturday)SECN+ (Friday)SECN+ (Saturday)OU Game Notes
Sooners Play St. Thomas Thursday, Go Up Against UCF Friday and Saturday
NORMAN — No. 3 Oklahoma Softball (32-3) prepares for a home weekend as the Sooners host St. Thomas and UCF for the Okana Invitational Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5.
OU hosts St. Thomas Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m., while taking on UCF Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 5 at 12:30 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday night's game will not be streamed on SEC Network+ due to the schedule change. Friday and Saturday's games against UCF will be streamed on SEC Network+. A radio broadcast of the Thursday's and Friday's game will be available on The Franchise 2 (1560 AM), while Saturday will be offered on 1560 AM and 103.3 FM.
Live stats will be offered on Statbroadcast.com all weekend.
AGAINST ST. THOMAS & UCF
Thursday will be the first-ever meeting between St. Thomas, while the Sooners and Knights have already met five times.
The Sooners are 5-0 against UCF after sweeping a three-game series in Orlando last April as part of the only Big 12 games the two teams played against one another. OU previously hosted UCF in the 2022 Norman Super Regional, with Oklahoma winning both contests.
LAST TIME VS. ST. THOMAS & UCF
Ella Parker homered twice, Kasidi Pickering added another roundtripper and Kierston Deal recorded the final three outs of the game as the Sooners completed a sweep of UCF with an 11-7 win in Orlando April 28, 2024.
ABOUT ST. THOMAS & UCF
St. Thomas is 19-11 and 4-2 in conference play … this is just the fourth season in which St. Thomas has been at the Division I level after moving from Division III after the 2021 season … St. Thomas is hitting .294 as a team with 27 home runs, while its pitching has held hitters to 12 home runs.
UCF is 22-16-1 and 4-8 in league play … the Knights are 4-4 in true road games this season … UCF is coached by Cindy Ball-Malone in her seventh season in Orlando … the Knights are 238-121-3 during her tenure and advanced to the 2022 Norman Super Regional … UCF has played a pair of like-opponents so far this season, dropping two of three against Baylor while defeating then No. 15 Missouri, 6-5, Feb. 11. The Knights own ranked wins over No. 15 Missouri, No. 22 FAU and No. 3 Florida.
LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma plated eight runs in the fourth inning en route to its 16th run-rule victory in a 13-2 win against UT Arlington Tuesday, April 1. Corri Hicks homered and drove in four, Gabbie Garcia doubled three times and Tia Milloy went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs.
DOUBLE DIP
Freshman Gabbie Garcia doubled in all three of her at-bats Tuesday at UT Arlington, tying an OU single game record for doubles in a game. Garcia posted just the ninth instance of that mark in program history.
FRESHIES
Oklahoma freshmen combined for nine of the team's RBIs during the 13-2 win against UT Arlington, paced by Corri Hicks' four. Milloy tallied two, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas had another and Sydney Barker chipped in with one.
THE GIFT OF GAB
Freshman infielder Gabbie Garcia paces OU with 11 home runs, tied for eighth among all freshman in Division I in that category. She was named D1Softball Freshman of the Week and SEC Player of the Week March 18. Earlier this month she became the first OU freshman since Jocelyn Alo to homer in five consecutive games.
3X SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Pitcher Sam Landry has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week three times this season, including in back-to-back weeks March 18 and March 25. She ranks in the top ten in the nation in WHIP (0.86), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.79) and shutouts (4).
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK
Oklahoma currently has 11 comeback victories this season and is one of 14 teams in the nation to have double-digit comeback victories. The Sooners came back in multiple games against South Carolina and Arkansas, as well as once against Missouri.
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
The Sooners have a number of players in the top ten among active leaders in a variety of statistical categories, particularly between the arms of Isabella Smith and Sam Landry.
SEC STANDOUTS
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and Gabbie Garcia have really performed in SEC play, holding down the left side of the infield as well as the middle of the order. McEnroe-Marinas has homered seven times in league play, while scoring 16 runs, seven more than the next most on the OU squad. Garcia's defense isn't to be overlooked as she's made all 36 plays in the field during conference competition, while homering five times. Kasidi Pickering is pacing the team with a .469 batting average.
PATIENT AT THE PLATE
Of the Sooners' 291 runs, Oklahoma has scored 87 runs via a walk or hit-by-pitch. Oklahoma has scored at least one run per game via a walk or hit by pitch in 32 of 35 games. The Sooners are second in the nation in walks with 191.
NEW BATS, SAME RESULTS
Of Oklahoma's 67 home runs, 38 have been hit by an OU newcomer or a Sooner in their first season. Additionally, six different Sooners have had a two-homer performance this year (Gabbie Garcia, Kasidi Pickering, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Sydney Barker and Isabela Emerling and Ella Parker). A total of 11 different players have homered at least once.
HOME DAYTA
Abby Dayton hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning of the series opener against Tennessee Friday, March 28. It was just Dayton's second home run of the season and first since her first at-bat as a Sooner Feb. 6. She also homered twice across her two seasons at Utah.
DEAL DEALT
Lefty Kierston Deal has been in some big moments and on the biggest stage during her career at OU. Saturday she stepped up in another big game, turning in a complete game in OU's 4-1 win against No. 10 Tennessee. She retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced in that game.
COVER THE BASES
Kasidi Pickering went 15 straight at-bats without being retired between March 23 at Missouri and the series finale against No. 10 Tennessee Sunday, March 30. Pickering reached base safely in 15 consecutive at-bats during that span, hitting .889 for the week.
WOAH NELLY
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas has started off SEC play on fire, hitting seven home runs through the first 12 games. She hit one in each game at Missouri and launched two more at Arkansas, including a go-ahead three-run homer in Sunday's finale. In SEC-opening weekend she hit two three-run home runs in the same game to help defeat South Carolina, 10-9, March 9. She is the first Sooner to hit a pair of three-run homers in the same game since Lynnsie Elam did so against Iowa March 20, 2022. Four of her 10 home runs on the season have been a three-run shot.
CYDNEY SLAMDERS
Cydney Sanders reached 200 games played this season, 148 of which have come at Oklahoma. Her 52 career home runs also ranks seventh among all active DI softball players and her 142 walks are fourth-most among active DI players.
KEEPIN' IT 100
Isabela Emerling hit her ninth home run of the season and also reached 100 career RBIs last March 26 at Wichita State. Ella Parker also crossed her own milestone this season, surpassing 100 career hits in just 82 games.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.
OU hosts St. Thomas Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m., while taking on UCF Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 5 at 12:30 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday night's game will not be streamed on SEC Network+ due to the schedule change. Friday and Saturday's games against UCF will be streamed on SEC Network+. A radio broadcast of the Thursday's and Friday's game will be available on The Franchise 2 (1560 AM), while Saturday will be offered on 1560 AM and 103.3 FM.
Live stats will be offered on Statbroadcast.com all weekend.
AGAINST ST. THOMAS & UCF
Thursday will be the first-ever meeting between St. Thomas, while the Sooners and Knights have already met five times.
The Sooners are 5-0 against UCF after sweeping a three-game series in Orlando last April as part of the only Big 12 games the two teams played against one another. OU previously hosted UCF in the 2022 Norman Super Regional, with Oklahoma winning both contests.
LAST TIME VS. ST. THOMAS & UCF
Ella Parker homered twice, Kasidi Pickering added another roundtripper and Kierston Deal recorded the final three outs of the game as the Sooners completed a sweep of UCF with an 11-7 win in Orlando April 28, 2024.
ABOUT ST. THOMAS & UCF
St. Thomas is 19-11 and 4-2 in conference play … this is just the fourth season in which St. Thomas has been at the Division I level after moving from Division III after the 2021 season … St. Thomas is hitting .294 as a team with 27 home runs, while its pitching has held hitters to 12 home runs.
UCF is 22-16-1 and 4-8 in league play … the Knights are 4-4 in true road games this season … UCF is coached by Cindy Ball-Malone in her seventh season in Orlando … the Knights are 238-121-3 during her tenure and advanced to the 2022 Norman Super Regional … UCF has played a pair of like-opponents so far this season, dropping two of three against Baylor while defeating then No. 15 Missouri, 6-5, Feb. 11. The Knights own ranked wins over No. 15 Missouri, No. 22 FAU and No. 3 Florida.
LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma plated eight runs in the fourth inning en route to its 16th run-rule victory in a 13-2 win against UT Arlington Tuesday, April 1. Corri Hicks homered and drove in four, Gabbie Garcia doubled three times and Tia Milloy went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs.
DOUBLE DIP
Freshman Gabbie Garcia doubled in all three of her at-bats Tuesday at UT Arlington, tying an OU single game record for doubles in a game. Garcia posted just the ninth instance of that mark in program history.
FRESHIES
Oklahoma freshmen combined for nine of the team's RBIs during the 13-2 win against UT Arlington, paced by Corri Hicks' four. Milloy tallied two, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas had another and Sydney Barker chipped in with one.
THE GIFT OF GAB
Freshman infielder Gabbie Garcia paces OU with 11 home runs, tied for eighth among all freshman in Division I in that category. She was named D1Softball Freshman of the Week and SEC Player of the Week March 18. Earlier this month she became the first OU freshman since Jocelyn Alo to homer in five consecutive games.
3X SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Pitcher Sam Landry has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week three times this season, including in back-to-back weeks March 18 and March 25. She ranks in the top ten in the nation in WHIP (0.86), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.79) and shutouts (4).
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK
Oklahoma currently has 11 comeback victories this season and is one of 14 teams in the nation to have double-digit comeback victories. The Sooners came back in multiple games against South Carolina and Arkansas, as well as once against Missouri.
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
The Sooners have a number of players in the top ten among active leaders in a variety of statistical categories, particularly between the arms of Isabella Smith and Sam Landry.
- Winning percentage: Isabella Smith (first in DI and third in the NCAA - .729), Sam Landry (second in DI and seventh in the NCAA - .777)
- Innings pitched: Isabella Smith (fourth in DI and ninth in the NCAA - 634.7 IP)
- Appearances: Sam Landry (fifth in DI and NCAA - 134) and Isabella Smith (fifth in DI and NCAA - 133)
- Strikeouts: Isabella Smith (third in DI and 11th in NCAA - 677)
- Complete games: Isabella Smith (8th in DI - 54)
- Home runs: Cydney Sanders (7th in DI and 12th in the NCAA - 52)
- Walks: Cydney Sanders (4th in DI and 5th in the NCAA - 142)
SEC STANDOUTS
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and Gabbie Garcia have really performed in SEC play, holding down the left side of the infield as well as the middle of the order. McEnroe-Marinas has homered seven times in league play, while scoring 16 runs, seven more than the next most on the OU squad. Garcia's defense isn't to be overlooked as she's made all 36 plays in the field during conference competition, while homering five times. Kasidi Pickering is pacing the team with a .469 batting average.
PATIENT AT THE PLATE
Of the Sooners' 291 runs, Oklahoma has scored 87 runs via a walk or hit-by-pitch. Oklahoma has scored at least one run per game via a walk or hit by pitch in 32 of 35 games. The Sooners are second in the nation in walks with 191.
NEW BATS, SAME RESULTS
Of Oklahoma's 67 home runs, 38 have been hit by an OU newcomer or a Sooner in their first season. Additionally, six different Sooners have had a two-homer performance this year (Gabbie Garcia, Kasidi Pickering, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Sydney Barker and Isabela Emerling and Ella Parker). A total of 11 different players have homered at least once.
HOME DAYTA
Abby Dayton hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning of the series opener against Tennessee Friday, March 28. It was just Dayton's second home run of the season and first since her first at-bat as a Sooner Feb. 6. She also homered twice across her two seasons at Utah.
DEAL DEALT
Lefty Kierston Deal has been in some big moments and on the biggest stage during her career at OU. Saturday she stepped up in another big game, turning in a complete game in OU's 4-1 win against No. 10 Tennessee. She retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced in that game.
COVER THE BASES
Kasidi Pickering went 15 straight at-bats without being retired between March 23 at Missouri and the series finale against No. 10 Tennessee Sunday, March 30. Pickering reached base safely in 15 consecutive at-bats during that span, hitting .889 for the week.
WOAH NELLY
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas has started off SEC play on fire, hitting seven home runs through the first 12 games. She hit one in each game at Missouri and launched two more at Arkansas, including a go-ahead three-run homer in Sunday's finale. In SEC-opening weekend she hit two three-run home runs in the same game to help defeat South Carolina, 10-9, March 9. She is the first Sooner to hit a pair of three-run homers in the same game since Lynnsie Elam did so against Iowa March 20, 2022. Four of her 10 home runs on the season have been a three-run shot.
CYDNEY SLAMDERS
Cydney Sanders reached 200 games played this season, 148 of which have come at Oklahoma. Her 52 career home runs also ranks seventh among all active DI softball players and her 142 walks are fourth-most among active DI players.
KEEPIN' IT 100
Isabela Emerling hit her ninth home run of the season and also reached 100 career RBIs last March 26 at Wichita State. Ella Parker also crossed her own milestone this season, surpassing 100 career hits in just 82 games.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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