The way former OU, Oklahoma State stars fared in 2024 season

Softball, like other college sports, relies heavily on the transfer portal.

It’s a tool that has helped OU win four consecutive national titles thanks to the signings of athletes like Alyssa Brito and Hope Trautwein. It has also helped OSU earn five consecutive Women’s College World Series trips by bringing in players like Lexi Kilfoyl and Rachel Becker.

However, the transfer portal may just as readily remove talent from a team’s roster, and OU and OSU are no exception. Last summer, six players transferred from the two programs.

Here’s where those players landed and how they fared this season.

Jordy Bahl, P, Nebraska

Bahl was named to the NFCA All-American first team twice during his two seasons at OU. She helped the Sooners win two national championships with a career ERA of 0.99 and 397 strikeouts in 299 ⅔ innings thrown.

However, the great pitcher transferred to Nebraska on June 15, 2023. Bahl, who is originally from Papillion, Nebraska, saw this as an opportunity to relocate closer to home.

Unfortunately, Bahl sustained a season-ending knee injury in the third inning of Nebraska’s season opener against Washington on February 8. She’ll try to rebound with the Cornhuskers as a redshirt junior next season.

Jocelyn Erickson, C, Florida

Erickson had 31 RBIs, 24 runs, and seven home runs as a freshman at OU in 2023, with a batting average of.323. However, she relocated to Florida on July 14, 2023, and took on a larger position.

Erickson made the most of it. This season, the sophomore catcher has 86 RBIs, 48 runs, and 15 home runs while maintaining a.389 batting average.

Erickson was voted SEC Player of the Year, Softball America Defender of the Year, and NFCA First Team All-American. She guided Florida to the Women’s College World Series semifinals, when they were eliminated by Oklahoma.

Sophia Nugent, C, Tennessee

Nugent spent the first two years of her college career at OU. She had 28 RBIs, 19 runs, and eight home runs during that span, with a.278 batting average, while only starting 19 of her 73 games.

Nugent then transferred to Tennessee on June 21, 2023, where she started 52 of 55 games this season. The junior catcher has 38 RBIs, 23 runs, and 11 home runs, with a.275 batting average.

The Lady Volunteers received the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, although they fell short of earning their second consecutive WCWS appearance. Tennessee lost 2-1 to No. 14 Alabama in the Knoxville Super Regional.

2023 Oklahoma State softball transfers

Tatum Clopton, P, LSU

Clopton attended Oklahoma State University for her first two years of college.

She appeared in six games as a freshman in 2022, recording a 5.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in nine innings pitched. Clopton, however, sustained a shoulder injury in the offseason and was forced to redshirt in 2023.

Clopton subsequently transferred to LSU on July 31, 2023. She redshirted this season with the Tigers, who received the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament but lost 2-1 to No. 8 Stanford in the Stanford Super Regional.

Kelly Maxwell, P, Oklahoma

Maxwell attended Oklahoma State University for the first five years of her college career. She had a 58-20 record, 746 strikeouts, and a 1.58 ERA in 494 2/3 innings pitched at the time.

Maxwell then switched to OU on August 3, 2023. This season, the graduate pitcher went 23-2 with a 1.94 ERA and 164 strikeouts over 155 1/3 innings.

Maxwell was chosen to the All-Big 12 first team and the WCWS Most Outstanding Player after leading OU to victory.

Bailie Runner, P, Central Arkansas

Runner is a former Oologah High standout who played her first two seasons of college at Oklahoma State. She made two appearances, recording an 11.25 ERA and one strikeout in four innings pitched.

Runner then moved to Central Arkansas on July 1, 2023. She had a 1.66 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 33 ⅔ innings pitched this season.

Central Arkansas finished 26-27-1. The season ended with a 9-3 loss to Eastern Kentucky in the ASUN Championships quarterfinals.