Big 12 softball power rankings: Houston rising up behind top tier of OU, Texas & OSU
Not a ton was expected of Houston this season.
The Cougars entered their first season in the Big 12 picked to finish last by the league’s coaches.
Houston will certainly be challenged plenty this weekend in Baton Rouge and when conference play begins, but so far, the Cougars are flying high, starting 10-1 with five run-rule victories.
Houston had just three run-rule victories all of last season.
Here are the Big 12 softball power rankings heading into the season’s third week:
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1. Oklahoma
It’s been a year since the Sooners’ last loss, as they extended their winning streak to 62 games with a 5-0 weekend. OU gave up just one run in those five wins and lowered their Big 12-best ERA to 0.50.
Last week: 1
Record: 9-0
More: OU softball coach Patty Gasso wasn't lying about her pitching staff. Sooners have depth.
2. Texas
The third-ranked Longhorns played just two games — their Saturday and Sunday games were wiped out — but Friday was a big one, with a 2-1 win over then-No. 2 Tennessee and a 9-2 win over No. 9 Stanford. Freshman Kayden Henry was on fire in the wins, going 5 for 6 with three runs, four RBIs, two home runs and a stolen base.
Last week: 2
Record: 7-0
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3. Oklahoma State
The Cowgirls had a SEC-heavy trip to Florida, dropping games to Georgia and LSU. After having two of their weekend games in the Sunshine State wiped out, OSU added a Monday showdown with Florida and came out with a 3-0 win thanks to Karli Godwin’s three-run home run and Lexi Kilgoyl’s complete-game in the circle.
Last week: 3
Record: 7-2
More: How Oklahoma State softball found comfort in new hitting coach Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher
4. UCF
The Knights blasted Wisconsin 21-9 in six innings Friday, giving UCF just its third 20-plus run game in program history and its first since reaching the mark in back-to-back games way back in 2003. The Knights had a program-record 25 hits in the win, scoring multiple runs in all six innings.
Last week: 5
Record: 6-2
5. Baylor
The Bears’ bats have been slow-going early in the season, but Shaylon Govan’s certainly hasn’t been. The junior has at least one hit in all six Baylor games so far, hitting .550. All of Govan’s hits have been singles.
Last week: 4
Record: 3-3
6. Houston
The Cougars have scored 94 runs already, tying the program’s most through 11 games. Houston also scored 94 in the first 11 games of the 2014 season. Houston’s seven-game winning streak is its longest since February 2020.
Last week: 8
Record: 10-1
More: Why OU softball coach Patty Gasso says Kasidi Pickering has bright future, present
7. BYU
The Cougars had a thrilling end to the weekend, blowing a 4-1 lead in the seventh to Cal State Fullerton, coming back to tie it in the bottom of the inning on Huntyr Ava’s two-out RBI double and then win it in the eighth on Maddie Udall’s RBI single.
Last week: 6
Record: 8-2
8. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders went 4-1 over the weekend, but hit just .240. Aubrey Barnhart had a solid weekend at the plate, though, going 5 of 8 with a home run, four RBIs and a pair of runs.
Last week: 7
Record: 7-3
9. Iowa State
The Cyclones lead the Big 12 with 46 walks drawn, with both Alesia Ranches and Tatum Johnson having drawn a Big 12-leading nine walks. By Iowa State pitchers also have more walks than anyone else in the league, with 38 free passes in nine games.
Last week: 9
Record: 6-3
10. Kansas
Jayhawks pitcher Kasey Hamilton is 0-4 with a 4.61 ERA, but Kansas coach Jennifer McFalls said Hamilton has been a victim of circumstance at times. “Kasey Hamilton is grinding and doing a great job for us in the circle. We just have to find a way to finish those close ones.” The Jayhawks have dropped four games by one or two runs and their other loss was by three runs.
Last week: 10
Record: 4-5-1
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Big 12 softball power rankings: Houston rising up behind OU, Texas
