Completed Event: Softball versus #6/8 Arkansas on April 19, 2026 , Win , 11, to, 1 , (5 inn.)
Final
Softball
11
vs #6/8 Arkansas
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Nicole May/University of Oklahoma
Eight Sooners Named NFCA First Team All-Region Honorees
May 14, 2026 | Softball
OU Sets a Program Record for First Team All-Region Honorees
NORMAN — For the first time in program history, Oklahoma Softball landed eight players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Region squad as announced Thursday, May 14.
Sooners Abby Dayton, Isabela Emerling, Gabbie Garcia, Audrey Lowry, Kai Minor, Ella Parker, Kasidi Pickering and Kendall Wells were all named to the NFCA Midwest First Team All-Region team, making that group eligible for NFCA All-American honors later this month.
Oklahoma earned eight of the 13 spots on the first team for the midwest region, which features a first, second and third team. Every outfield position on the first team was claimed by a Sooner as Oklahoma reached the maximum number of all-region recipients.
OU's previous high for first team all-region honorees came in 2022, 2021 and 2019 when Oklahoma notched seven. Last year OU tallied four, with Sam Landry, Garcia, Pickering and Parker earning first team recognition.
Dayton is now a four-time all-region recipient and two-time first team all-region honoree. Her last time on the first team was during her sophomore season at Utah when she eventually went on to earn NFCA Third Team All-American honors. The left fielder surpassed 200-career hits this season, tallying a .398 batting average with career bests in home runs (eight), RBIs (42) and slugging percentage (.735). Dayton added Second Team All-SEC honors to her stellar collegiate résumé.
Emerling is a first-time all-region selection, earning a spot on the first team at first base. The redshirt-senior has had a breakout year with Oklahoma, settling in to hit a career-best .395 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs. She came up clutch, hitting two grand slams to bring her to nine for her collegiate career. Those nine grand slams are good for tied-for-third in the NCAA, while upping her to 50 home runs for her career. Emerling was just named Second Team All-SEC last week, her first all-league accolade.
Garcia has backed up an NFCA Third Team All-American freshman year with another stellar season at shortstop for the Sooners. The lefty hitter was named to the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 list, while making the SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive Team. Garcia is hitting .393 with 56 runs, 11 doubles, 22 home runs, 68 RBIs and an .851 slugging percentage as one of the premiere shortstops in the entire country.
Lowry has taken her game to another level during her sophomore season, racking up all-region honors after taking home All-SEC Second Team recognition last week. The southpaw leads the Sooners with a 21-3 record, while spinning a 2.70 ERA and 82 strikeouts in a team-high 114 innings of work. She has also come in to earn three saves across her 30 appearances.
Minor has burst onto the scene as a freshman, posting some of the best offensive and defensive numbers among all centerfielders in Division I softball. The speedy outfielder was named to the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 List and also earned a spot on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 List. Last week she took home SEC First Team recognition, leading the league in hitting with a sweltering .446 batting average and a perfect fielding percentage.
Parker earns all-region nods for the third time as she vies for another spot on the NFCA First Team All-American squad. The junior has belted 21 home runs, good for a career high, while scoring 55 and driving in 61. The right fielder has settled into her outfield role, posting three outfield assists and a perfect fielding percentage to boost her SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive selections. Last month she also earned a spot on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 List.
Pickering is just shy of setting career marks in the power department as she takes home her second NFCA First Team All-Region nod in as many seasons. Primarily contributing as the designated player this year, Pickering has hit 17 home runs and driven in 56 while batting .377 and slugging .795.
Wells' freshman year will go down as one of the best in program and Division I softball history. The catcher has set OU's single-season home run record, while also breaking the program and national single-season freshman home run record. She currently stands with 36 home runs and 79 RBIs, earning a spot on the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 List and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 List. Wells picked up a spot on the SEC First Team and was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
All-region recipients will now be up for consideration on the NFCA All-American teams, which will be announced later this month.
OU begins play in the 2026 Norman Regional tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. against Binghamton. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Sooners Abby Dayton, Isabela Emerling, Gabbie Garcia, Audrey Lowry, Kai Minor, Ella Parker, Kasidi Pickering and Kendall Wells were all named to the NFCA Midwest First Team All-Region team, making that group eligible for NFCA All-American honors later this month.
Oklahoma earned eight of the 13 spots on the first team for the midwest region, which features a first, second and third team. Every outfield position on the first team was claimed by a Sooner as Oklahoma reached the maximum number of all-region recipients.
OU's previous high for first team all-region honorees came in 2022, 2021 and 2019 when Oklahoma notched seven. Last year OU tallied four, with Sam Landry, Garcia, Pickering and Parker earning first team recognition.
Dayton is now a four-time all-region recipient and two-time first team all-region honoree. Her last time on the first team was during her sophomore season at Utah when she eventually went on to earn NFCA Third Team All-American honors. The left fielder surpassed 200-career hits this season, tallying a .398 batting average with career bests in home runs (eight), RBIs (42) and slugging percentage (.735). Dayton added Second Team All-SEC honors to her stellar collegiate résumé.
Emerling is a first-time all-region selection, earning a spot on the first team at first base. The redshirt-senior has had a breakout year with Oklahoma, settling in to hit a career-best .395 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs. She came up clutch, hitting two grand slams to bring her to nine for her collegiate career. Those nine grand slams are good for tied-for-third in the NCAA, while upping her to 50 home runs for her career. Emerling was just named Second Team All-SEC last week, her first all-league accolade.
Garcia has backed up an NFCA Third Team All-American freshman year with another stellar season at shortstop for the Sooners. The lefty hitter was named to the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 list, while making the SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive Team. Garcia is hitting .393 with 56 runs, 11 doubles, 22 home runs, 68 RBIs and an .851 slugging percentage as one of the premiere shortstops in the entire country.
Lowry has taken her game to another level during her sophomore season, racking up all-region honors after taking home All-SEC Second Team recognition last week. The southpaw leads the Sooners with a 21-3 record, while spinning a 2.70 ERA and 82 strikeouts in a team-high 114 innings of work. She has also come in to earn three saves across her 30 appearances.
Minor has burst onto the scene as a freshman, posting some of the best offensive and defensive numbers among all centerfielders in Division I softball. The speedy outfielder was named to the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 List and also earned a spot on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 List. Last week she took home SEC First Team recognition, leading the league in hitting with a sweltering .446 batting average and a perfect fielding percentage.
Parker earns all-region nods for the third time as she vies for another spot on the NFCA First Team All-American squad. The junior has belted 21 home runs, good for a career high, while scoring 55 and driving in 61. The right fielder has settled into her outfield role, posting three outfield assists and a perfect fielding percentage to boost her SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive selections. Last month she also earned a spot on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 List.
Pickering is just shy of setting career marks in the power department as she takes home her second NFCA First Team All-Region nod in as many seasons. Primarily contributing as the designated player this year, Pickering has hit 17 home runs and driven in 56 while batting .377 and slugging .795.
Wells' freshman year will go down as one of the best in program and Division I softball history. The catcher has set OU's single-season home run record, while also breaking the program and national single-season freshman home run record. She currently stands with 36 home runs and 79 RBIs, earning a spot on the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 List and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 List. Wells picked up a spot on the SEC First Team and was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
All-region recipients will now be up for consideration on the NFCA All-American teams, which will be announced later this month.
OU begins play in the 2026 Norman Regional tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. against Binghamton. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, May 02
