It was just a year ago that Oklahoma was concerned about replacing the hitting and run production provided at the catching position by two-time All-American Kinzie Hansen in her five seasons behind the plate for the Sooners.
During Hansen's four full seasons (discounting the shortened pandemic year) at OU, she averaged 14 home runs and 23 RBI per year in 2021-24, with her best season being 2021 when she slammed 24 home runs and drove in a career-best 66.
Isabella Emerling and Kendall Wells leading Sooners' record-setting start
OU head coach Patty Gasso acquired Isabella Emerling, a transfer from North Carolina, to fill that role ahead of the 2025 campaign, which she did more than adequately, especially in the run-producing department. Emerling played in 58 of OU's 61 games last season, including 56 starts at catcher.
Emerling hit just .212 a year ago, but when she did get a hit, it was usually for extra bases or cleared the outfield fence. She hit 12 home runs and drove in 37, fifth-most on the team. The redshirt senior has stepped up her game considerably this season. Through 19 games this season, Emerling already has nine round-trippers to go along with 25 RBI. She's also one of 11 Oklahoma players hitting above .400 with a .489 average.
Part of the reason for the early offensive surge and power production by Emerling is because she has strong competition at the catcher spot this season from freshman Kendall Wells, who has quickly established herself as not only the top newcomer on the Sooners' roster this season, but one of the best freshman players in the country.
Rated as the No. 5 prospect overall by Softball America when she signed with Oklahoma as a member of the Sooners' No. 1 2026 recruiting class, Wells literally hit the ground running when she arrived on campus at OU. She launched a home run in five straight games during fall scrimmages at Love's Field. And she continues to display her prodigious power bat one month into the season, knocking the ball out of the park 16 times already in 21 games with 31 runs driven in.
Gasso knew that Wells, from Bogart, Georgia, possessed incredible talent, but I think the Oklahoma head coach herself was even a little surprised at how quickly the young freshman has been able to make a national impact.
"Offensively, I've seen Jocelyn Alo, I've seen Lauren Chamberlain. This is something new," Gasso said of Wells earlier this season. "This is different. It is some of the most elite power I've seen from a young player, and she came in like that."
Wells isn't only about power numbers, though. She has 26 hits in 64 at-bats for a .406 average, 76 total bases and a team-best 1.188 slugging percentage, which ranks eighth nationally. And Emerling is right behind her nationally in the latter category.
Oklahoma is on a record-setting pace for both home runs and average home runs a game with 4.14 (the NCAA record is 2.76 set by Miami (OH) in 2024). Oklahoma leads all of college softball with 91 home runs in 22 games, and Wells and Emerling have combined for 25 of that total.
There isn't much doubt that Wells' presence has pushed Emerling and is bringing out the best in the fourth-year catcher.
When Wells isn't catching, she has remained in the lineup at either first base or as the designated player with Emerling providing the catching. Either way, it's a pretty powerful combo in a lineup that is already packed with power.