Oklahoma softball jumps to No. 1 in USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
By Chip Rouse
Oklahoma softball is back in the No. 1 spot in the national rankings, jumping ahead of UCLA, which had held the top ranking the past six weeks.
The Sooners (38-2) returned to the top of the rankings for the first time since the second week of the 2018 season after UCLA lost its second game of the season last weekend against unranked Oregon.
Oklahoma’s three-game sweep of Kansas this past weekend extended the Sooners’ consecutive e game win streak to 28 games, the longest active streak in NCAA Division ! softball. OU’s last loss ironically was to the then-No. 2 UCLA back on Feb. 22 in the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, California. The Sooners began the 2019 season as the country’s third ranked team.
UCLA dropped down one spot this week, to No. 2, followed by Washington, Florida State and Arizona. Rounding out the top 10 this week are four SEC teams,LSU, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, and No. 10 Texas, the Sooners opponent in a three-game series beginning Thursday.
Sooners take two of three Big 12 weekly awards
Two of the Sooners stars in the sweep of Kansas last week were junior pitcher Giselle Jaurez and freshman utility player Grace Green. Both were named Big 12 Players of the Week. Juarez earned Pitcher of the Week honors in the conference, while Green shared Player of the Week with Rylee Bayless of Oklahoma State.
Juarez captured her 16th win of the season without a loss, tossing a one-hit, 10-0 shutout over Kansas, facing just 20 batters in the process. The southpaw starter, who transferred to OU from Arizona State, also came on in relief in Sunday’s final game in the series and retired the side in order.
This is the third time this season that Juarez has been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week.
Green recorded five hits in seven plate appearances against Kansas. She started all three games in the series. Four of her hits were for extra bases, including three home runs, giving her a dozen for the season, and a double.
Green is one of three different Oklahoma players who have combined for five Big 12 Player of the Week awards this season. This is Green’s second time for the honor. The Sooners have also claimed six Pitcher of the Week awards (Juarez three times, Mariah Lopez twice and Shannon Saile once).
Three Sooners selected in National Pro Fastpitch Draft
Three-fourths of the Oklahoma infield — seniors third baseman Sydney Romero, second baseman Caleigh Clifton and first baseman Shay Knighton — were selected in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft this week.
Romero, among the national leaders in batting average, hits, total bases, slugging percentage and runs scored per game, was selected in the first round (third overall) by the USSSA Pride. She is the third Oklahoma player to be drafted in the first round in the past two seasons (pitchers Paige Lowary and Paige Parker were first-round picks a year ago.
Clifton was selected by the Chicago Bandits in the second round with the ninth overall pick, and Knighton was the final draft selection in the fourth round, also selected by the USSSA Pride.
Clifton currently leads the Big 12 in on-base percentage and runs scored and ranks second in slugging percentage, walks and triples.
Knighton was the Most Valuable Player in the 2017 Women’s College World Series, won by Oklahoma, and is a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big 12 selection.
The three draft selections is tied for the second most in OU softball history. Three Sooners were selected in the NPF College Draft in 2008 and 2018. Four Oklahoma players were drafted in 2013.
Oklahoma leads all NCAA softball programs with the most NPF draftees all-time.