Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma softball: Five reasons to like OU’s chances of WCWS three-peat

By Chip Rouse

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 20: Jennifer Salling of Canada prepares to hit during the Softball Preliminary Round match between the U.S. and Canada during Day Six of the XVI Pan American Games at the Panamerican Softball Stadium on October 20, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 20: Jennifer Salling of Canada prepares to hit during the Softball Preliminary Round match between the U.S. and Canada during Day Six of the XVI Pan American Games at the Panamerican Softball Stadium on October 20, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
BEIJING – AUGUST 20: Monica Abbott
BEIJING – AUGUST 20: Monica Abbott /

Lockdown pitching

It’s a time-worn baseball axiom that great pitching beats great hitting. In the case of Oklahoma softball, the Sooners are likely to beat you both ways. Not only are they terrific this season scoring a lot of runs, they also make it extremely difficult for their opponents to score any runs.

The OU pitching staff, one of the best in the country, allows just over one earned run per game. OU seniors Paige Parker (0.86) and Paige Lowary (.0.98) rank second and sixth in the nation, respectfully, in that category. And a third Sooner starter, sophomore Mariah Lopez, isn’t far behind with a 1.56 ERA.

Those three Sooner pitchers have combined for a won-lost record of 53-3 this season.

One reason the ERA of Sooner pitchers is so low is because they don’t give up many hits and they don’t walk many free passes to hitters. Parker averages just 3.85 hits per seven innings, and Lowary allows just over four hits per game (4.29). Both rank in the top-25 nationally in hits allowed per game.

The Sooner pitching staff has thrown 28 shutouts in 58 games this season. Oklahoma has outscored its opponents 409-71 in the 2018 campaign. With that wide a differential, it’s easy to see why OU has so many wins and the best winning percentage in the country.

Home/OU softball