All Sooners

Another Oklahoma Newcomer Captures SEC Freshman of the Week Honors

A third OU freshman earned recognition from the SEC for outstanding play over the weekend.
Ryan Chapman|
Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso watches on from the coaching box at Love's Field.
Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso watches on from the coaching box at Love's Field. | NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A third Oklahoma freshman has officially earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors. 

Lexi McDaniel lit the scoreboard up at Love’s Field in the Sooners’ first home weekend, and she was honored by the league on Monday. 

McDaniel led the squad with a .769 batting average in Norman over the weekend. 

She went 10-for-13 at the plate with four homers, scoring 11 runs and totaling 12 RBIs with a 1.769 slugging percentage. 

McDaniel had four multi-hit games, including a 4-for-4 effort against Alabama State on Friday that included a pair of home runs. 

After the weekend, McDaniel now paces the team with a .556 batting average (20-for-36), and she’s driven in 17 RBIs. 

Five of McDaniel’s 20 hits have been home runs, and shes also doubled twice and drawn three walks this year. 

She joins Kendall Wells and Kai Minor as OU freshmen who have already been named SEC Freshman of the Week. 

There could potentially be a path for McDaniel to earn even more playing time over the coming weeks. 

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news.

She split time with Sydney Barker at third base throughout the weekend while Nelly McEnroe-Marinas rested a sore shoulder. 

Unfortunately, McEnroe-Marinas had to leave Sunday’s contest against Southeastern Louisiana after colliding with Wells, and OU coach Patty Gasso said McEnroe-Marinas was set to get X-rays on her knee. 

If the Sooners are cautious when reintegrating McEnroe-Marinas into the lineup, McDaniel and Barker could again be tasked with splitting time at third base. 

OU has six non-conference contests remaining before the Sooners open SEC play against Auburn at Love’s Field. 

On Tuesday night, Oklahoma will travel south to take on North Texas in Denton, then OU will return to Love’s Field for a pair of games against both Louisiana and Abilene Christian in the Okana Invitational. 

Then the Sooners have one final midweek game, an in-state battle against Tulsa, before welcoming in the Tigers to kick off OU’s defense of the SEC regular season title. 

McDaniel has played in 18 of Oklahoma’s 21 games so far, making seven starts, and there’s no reason why the freshman shouldn’t feature prominently over the next six contests. 

Tuesday’s contest with the Mean Green is slated to start at 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Oklahoma returns to action at Love’s Field on Friday at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+) against Louisiana. 

Saturday, the Sooners will battle Abilene Christian at 2 p.m., followed by a second contest with Louisiana (5 p.m.).

Oklahoma will close its weekend schedule against Abilene Christian on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI 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. 

Share on XFollow _RyanChapman
Home/Softball