Throughout the history of college softball, it doesn't feel like home runs have ever been hit as much as they are now. Bats are better, players have better swings, and the ball almost feels like it is juiced with how often it leaves the yard. Power hitting has become an expectation instead of a luxury, especially at Oklahoma.
While players who can still hit small ball are important, Oklahoma continues to prove why the long ball is king. In their first Super Regional game against SEC foe Mississippi State, Oklahoma reached a crazy stat that will have teams wondering how playing against the Sooners will ever be fair.
The Sooners so far have hit four bombs against the Bulldogs, with freshman Kendall Wells finally breaking through the 37 home run barrier, knocking out her 38th and 39th of the season, now just two behind current home run leader, UCLA's Megan Grant. However, it wasn't Wells' home run that everyone took notice of, even though it was impressive.
Isabela Emerling and Kasidi Pickering both hit home runs in the Sooners' five-run third inning, giving them both 20 home runs on the season. With those two hitting that benchmark, that means that five players in Oklahoma's starting lineup have hit 20 home runs on the season.
Touch 'Em All 📊 pic.twitter.com/TJnGt57wej
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) May 22, 2026
The home run ball feels more like an expectation for Oklahoma softball
The five players in Oklahoma's starting lineup to hit 20 home runs in a season are Kendall Wells (39), Ella Parker (22), Gabbie Garcia (22), Kasidi Pickering (20), and Isabela Emerling (20). This is something nearly unheard of, as it feels like there isn't a bat in the Sooners' lineup that is safe to go against.
What Wells has done in her freshman season has to have Oklahoma fans feeling like anything is possible. While Megan Grant holds the lead in home runs right now with 40, it is her senior season, and Wells has been able to do this in just her freshman season.
Even when pitchers can get past Wells, the other four hitters are there looming. This has allowed the home run ball to be more of an expectation than a luxury for the Sooners and their fans. This is a new era of power hitting, and Oklahoma clearly still leads the way.
With hitters like this, it is a wonder how Oklahoma ever loses games, but it hasn't been the season the Sooners are used to having. A few more losses have had fans wondering what is going on with head coach Patty Gasso and her squad. Clearly, hitting the ball out isn't a problem, but the pitching and the defense have not been quite as strong as it needs to be.
Oklahoma will have to now rely on its hitting as Mississippi State has currently put the pressure on the Sooners, tying the game up in the sixth inning. The bats need to heat back up against the Bulldogs if the Sooners want to escape the scary fate of losing the first game of the Super Regional on their own field.
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