All Sooners

Anchored by Experience, Oklahoma's Lineup Projects to be as Dangerous as Ever in 2024

Oklahoma returns a majority of the lineup that helped the Sooners lift a third consecutive national title at the 2023 Women's College World Series last June.

Ryan Chapman

NORMAN — Oklahoma has a strong foundation in the field and at the plate ready to chase a fourth consecutive title in 2024.

Patty Gasso lost everyday starters in Haley Lee and Grace Lyons from her 2023 batting lineup, but the core of the team that devastated opposing pitchers night-in and night-out returns.

Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman and Kinzie Hansen are all back to lead from the top, as well as star third baseman Alyssa Brito.

Each of Jennings, Coleman and Brito blasted 17 home runs a year ago, and Hansen rocketed 13 herself while hitting .409 in a comeback campaign after injuries hampered her flow in 2022.

But Gasso has even more familiar faces all over the field.

Cydney Sanders, who replicated the power she displayed as a freshman at Arizona State down the stretch, will handle the duties at first base while hoping to enjoy a stronger start to the year.

Rylie Boone, another emotional jolt who flew under the radar with a .392 batting average and five stolen bases last year, returns alongside Coleman in the outfield to ensure Gasso once again will have an incredibly athletic unit to support her pitching staff.

Oklahoma's final 2023 batting statistics.  / OU Stats

The real questions coming into the year centered around a few spots.

Who would replace Lyons’ incredible defensive acumen? Would that disrupt the outfield of Coleman, Boone and Alynah Torres? And how would Gasso replace the depth that transferred out in pinch hitters Sophia Nugent and Jocelyn Erickson?

Monday, Gasso was candid about position battles all across the field, including the decision to move Jennings over to shortstop.

“I think Tiare is going to be working over at shortstop,” Gasso said. “Alyssa Brito is so good at third, it's hard to move her out of there and her experience is something else.”

The two will rekindle their dynamic pairing on the left side of OU’s infield — a relationship that predates their time in Norman.

“I played third next to (Jennings) in travel ball,” Brito said on Monday. “We were on the OC Batbusters together. It's just kind of going back to the olden days. We already have a really good feel together and she constantly talks to me and we're on the same page at all times.”

Alyssa Brito (pictured) has played alongside Tiare Jennings before, when the duo tore up the travel ball circuit with the OC Batbusters.  :: John E. Hoover / AllSooners

Filling Jennings’ spot at second base appears to be a three woman race.

“I've got three vying over at second — that's Avery Hodge, Quincee Lilio and Alynah Torres,” Gasso said. “But Alynah Torres can do a lot of things. Avery can also play shortstop. Q can also play the outfield, so there's opportunities for all of them.”

Torres’ bat will be relied upon, as she hit .350 a year ago, driving in 23 RBIs and drawing 10 walks.

Lilio started 12 games last year, including a contest at second base while Jennings played shortstop in a non-conference battle that Lyons missed. In total, Lilio only logged 40 plate appearances in 2023, batting .275 with a home run and nine RBIs.

Hodge was utilized mainly as a pinch-runner and a defensive specialist last year, as she hit .261 in 23 plate appearances.

There will be a good battle in the outfield as well.

Hannah Coor, fresh off redshirting in 2023, was one of the stars of this fall’s Battle Series. Gasso said Coor was battling through back pain throughout the fall, but if she can manage that, there’s a role to play for her this season.

SB - Hannah Coor
Hannah Coor was one of the stars of Oklahoma's fall Battle Series as she battled back from injury in 2023 :: BRYAN TERRY / THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

“She had the best fall — one of the best of anyone on our team,” Gasso said. “So can she maintain that. Can we handle the pain? What can we do to help her? It’s something that there’s really no solution to.

“So she’s having to deal with a lot of pain and it’s just wearing on her psyche a little bit. But if we can keep her steady she’s going to be a big help to us as well.”

There’s also a talented freshman looking to force her way into the lineup.

“Our freshman, Ella Parker, she's not playing first,” Gasso said, “… but Ella Parker's gotta be in this lineup, so that's one thing that I'm certain.”

Parker smashed the ball throughout the fall, but OU associate head coach and hitting coach JT Gasso is most excited about the development she’s already made from the end of the fall until now.

“She is one of the most physical athletes that we’ve had at OU,” he said Tuesday during a weekly interview on 107.7 The Franchise. “Just the strength and speed combined and athleticism is very impressive. And so now — that’s all great. But once you get into the college game it’s a whole ‘nother level where people are going to start game planning against you and they’re gonna go specifically at certain spots of your game and try and get you out.

“So she’s done a really good job of understanding that, especially facing our pitching, and she’s growing already… I’m excited to basically just let her loose.”

Lee gave OU more than just power. Not only did she blast 14 home runs for the Sooners last year, but her fun-loving nature helped keep the entire team loose.

Parker won’t be looking to match up with those numbers, but she could do damage from both the outfield or as the designated player.

Transfer Riley Ludlam is looking to bring the same kind of spark as well.

Brought in as cover for Hansen behind the plate, Ludlam was described as “raw” by Patty Gasso in the fall, but has also been a sponge to digest Oklahoma’s system at the plate.

Gasso was also excited about another dimension for her offense in 2024.

“We’ve got speed which looks quite different than what you’re used to,” Gasso said. “You’re used to seeing a home run trot. These guys can move. They can steal bases.

“I’ve got Riley Ludlam, our senior catcher off the bench that can change the game in one swing. We’ve got lethal hitters on the bench. We’re very deep. I could do a lot of different things. So it’s fun.”

As always, Gasso will have plenty to tinker with throughout the opening weekends of the season.

Her first chance to put the 2024 offense on display comes Thursday when the Sooners open the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge against Utah Valley at 10:30 a.m. before taking on No. 11 Duke at 1 p.m.

The entire weekend’s action will be broadcast on FloSoftball. 

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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