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Big 12 softball power rankings: Baylor joins OU with stellar outing at Mary Nutter Classic

Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman
·4 min read

OU might’ve been the rock stars of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic last weekend in Cathedral City, California.

But the Sooners weren’t the only Big 12 team to make waves there.

Baylor had an impressive streak of wins in the Coachella Valley, not only going 5-0 but doing it with close wins over a trip of ranked teams — Oregon, UCLA and Missouri.

After an 0-2 start to the season against Tennessee, the Bears have gone 8-1 since.

Saturday was the biggest statement for Baylor, coming back to beat the Bruins 5-3 with five runs in the sixth and then battling from behind once again to beat the Tigers 5-4 with two runs in the sixth to tie it and another run in the bottom of the seventh to walk the game off.

The Bears moved back into the USA Today/NFCA coaches’ poll at No. 21, while OU, Texas and Oklahoma State occupy the top three spots.

Here’s a look at the Big 12 power rankings heading into the season’s third week:

More: Former OU softball pitcher Alex Storako surprises dad with trip to Mary Nutter Classic

1. Oklahoma

The Sooners got their bats going in Cathedral City, hitting .378. Freshman Ella Parker was particularly impressive, going 7 for 15 with seven RBIs, two home runs, five runs and a pair of stolen bases.

Last week: 1

Record: 14-0

More: Relive OU softball's run to three straight WCWS titles with our 'Crimson Empire' book

2. Texas

Even in a loss, the Longhorns have a positive — becoming the first team this season to score multiple earned runs against Stanford star NiJaree Canady. Sophomore Reese Atwood went 11 for 17 with an eye-popping 16 RBIs. Reese leads the Big 12 in batting average (.632), OPS (2.072), RBIs (31) and home runs (9).

Last week: 2

Record: 12-1*

More: Why Oklahoma State softball pitcher Ivy Rosenberry's strong start is a pleasant surprise

3. Oklahoma State

The Cowgirls extended their winning streak to nine with a pair of run-rule victories over South Dakota State in their home opener Tuesday night. Ivy Rosenberry is 3-0 with a 0.28 ERA in 25 innings of work so far.

Last week: 3

Record: 15-2

More: Oklahoma State softball sweeps doubleheader vs. South Dakota State in home opener

4. Baylor

The Bears took a step forward offensively in the Palm Springs area, hitting .331 in their sweep at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Shaylon Govan continues to lead the Bears, hitting .485, and had her first extra-base hits of the season — two doubles and a home run — in California.

Last week: 5

Record: 8-3

Baylor infielder Shaylon Govan is hitting .485 this season for the Bears, who helped their NCAA Tournament resume with a strong weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Baylor infielder Shaylon Govan is hitting .485 this season for the Bears, who helped their NCAA Tournament resume with a strong weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

5. UCF

The Knights had a tough schedule at the Mary Nutter, going 2-4. All of the losses came to ranked opponents, but UCF hit just .269 in the event. Another concern — opponents have been successful on all 14 of their stolen-base attempts against the Knights.

Last week: 4

Record: 8-6

6. BYU

The Cougars’ schedule might not’ve been the toughest at the Mary Nutter, but BYU outscored opponents 55-18 at the event. The Cougars are second in the league in hitting, at .362. With 20 sacrifice bunts, BYU has 12 more than anyone else in the league.

Last week: 7

Record: 12-3

7. Texas Tech

Texas Tech's head softball coach Craig Snider gestures to one of his athletes during a scrimmage, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, at Rocky Johnson Field.
Texas Tech's head softball coach Craig Snider gestures to one of his athletes during a scrimmage, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, at Rocky Johnson Field.

The Red Raiders swept through the North Texas Tournament, including beating Minnesota twice and North Texas twice. Their .271 batting average is still a bit of a concern, though.

Last week: 8

Record: 12-3*

8. Houston

The Cougars’ schedule took a turn for the difficult last week, and Houston dropped three games — two to LSU — by a combined score of 24-4. The Cougars’ 3.83 ERA is next-to-last in the Big 12, behind only Iowa State.

Last week: 6

Record: 12-4*

9. Kansas

The Jayhawks have a chance to continue rising, with games at Austin Peay and Belmont this week. Kansas’ pitching is middle-of-the-pack in the Big 12 so far, but the Jayhawks are heavily reliant on just two pitchers. Kasey Hamilton and Katie Brooks have combined to throw 73 ⅔ of Kansas’ 95 innings.

Last week: 10

Record: 9-5-1

10. Iowa State

Angelina Allen leads the Big 12 in hits with 25, tied for fourth in RBIs with 17 and home runs with four. She’s hitting .490 with a 1.348 OPS.  The Cyclones as a whole are ninth in hitting (.282), and last in pitching (5.16 ERA) and fielding (.955) in the league.

Last week: 9

Record: 7-7

*—All records through Tuesday

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Big 12 softball power rankings: Shaylon Govan has Baylor on the rise