OU Softball: Projecting Oklahoma's 2026 Starting Lineup

Two of the three spots in the OU outfield are straightforward to project. 

Kasidi Pickering, who started 61 games in 2025 and finished second on the team with a .392 batting average and 18 home runs, will hold down a spot. 

She’ll be flanked by Abigale Dayton, who also started 61 games, and hit .325 with three home runs, eight doubles, a triple and 19 RBIs.

The last spot could be up for grabs well into the season. 

By the time the SEC Tournament rolled around, freshman Sydney Barker was Gasso’s choice to get her bat into the lineup. 

At a minimum, Barker will be available to feature heavily in right fight. 

If Barker is able to replace Sanders at first base, however, that could open things up for Minor and potentially Tia Milloy to work themselves into the lineup in the outfield. 

Milloy appeared in 50 games as a freshman, though she only started 11, and she hit .259 with five home runs and a double in 54 at-bats.

Superstar Ella Parker is also back for her junior year, and while she primarily serves as OU’s designated player, she can also deputize in the outfield if needed. 

The Infield 

Much like the outfield, there should be only one spot up for grabs in Gasso’s infield. 

Nelly McEnroe-Marinas cemented herself as a reliable third baseman as a redshirt freshman, and the middle infield duo of Gabbie Garcia at shortstop and Ailana Agbayani at second was one of OU’s many strengths by the end of the year. 

That leaves the major battle at first, where Barker played a handful of times in relief of Sanders a year ago. 

McDaniel, the true freshman, could be given an opportunity during the fall to try and battle at the position, as could any other bat that Gasso might try to work into the lineup.

In all likelihood, it feels like a spot for Barker to call home after a strong close to her freshman campaign in Norman. 

The Battery 

Associate head coach and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha has slowly adopted a staff approach over the past decade, but 2026 could be her largest rotation to date. 

Berzon’s arrival gives the Sooners an ace to replace Landry, and she’s already proven to be effective in the SEC. 

She’s earned NFCA All-American honors twice before, and the change of scenery to work with Rocha has benefitted plenty of veteran transfers before. 

Kierston Deal, Paytn Monticelli and Audrey Lowery all return from the 2025 rotation as well, which gives the Sooners plenty of experience both as starting pitchers and out of the bullpen. 

Before Bordi reclassified, she was rated as the top pitcher in the 2025 class per Softball America.

With her officially moving into the 2024 class, Parker took over the top spot and Zache signed as the No. 5-ranked pitcher.

Berzon will lead the way, but Rocha has more viable options than ever before to piece together game plans all year. 

Behind the plate, Isabela Emerling returns a wealth of experience at catcher that she can pass on to Wells, who is the top-rated catcher in the country. 

Emerling played in 58 games, making 56 starts, and Wells should have more opportunities to work her way into the lineup early in 2026 unlike Hicks, who dealt with injuries during fall ball a year ago. 

Oklahoma didn’t have to do much work in the transfer portal, unlike Texas Tech, due to the talent retained and Gasso signing another group of freshmen with sky-high expectations. 

But the lack of noise in the portal won’t hamper the Sooners’ efforts to be in the hunt for another WCWS crown next June.