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Could OU softball be the destination for Kelly Maxwell?

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•07/07/23•

BPrzybylo

Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma State's Kelly Maxwell has entered the transfer portal. Photo credit: Bryan Terry - The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network.

OU softball has had the biggest defection in the transfer portal for this cycle. Um, will the Sooners rebound and now pick up the biggest addition?

We’re not there yet, but the dots are beginning to be connected with Oklahoma bringing a rival to the other side of Bedlam.

Star Oklahoma State pitcher Kelly Maxwell announced Friday morning, confirming Thursday reports, that she is entering the transfer portal. That news is big enough on its own. However, sources had told SoonerScoop.com in June that Maxwell might be one to watch for the Sooners. Maxwell is a grad transfer.

As the month went on, it felt like maybe that thought had subsided. But it’s as real as ever with Maxwell entering the portal, and OU not landing that stud pitcher from the portal.

That’s not to say OU head coach Patty Gasso hasn’t been active. The Sooners did add former Wisconsin pitcher Paytn Monticelli earlier this week. However, nobody is expecting Monticelli to be the ace for the Sooners in 2024.

Maxwell could be. And Maxwell combined with Nicole May would make one lethal combination for the three-time defending national champions.

OSU star pitcher Kelly Maxwell has hit the transfer portal.

How good has Maxwell been? It’s felt like she’s been there since the rise of the OSU program and heading to the Women’s College World Series became a yearly thing in Stillwater.

Maxwell went 16-7 last season with a 1.91 ERA. She struck out 229 batters in 142.2 innings pitched. It was actually a tame season compared to the 189.2 innings Maxwell pitched in 2022 when she went 21-5 with a 1.22 ERA. In her four seasons, she’s had an earned run average under two per game.

For her OSU career, Maxwell was 58-20 with a 1.58 ERA with 746 strikeouts in nearly 500 innings. She had 40 complete games, 21 shutouts and 12 saves.

OU lost its own star pitcher in Jordy Bahl last month when she announced he was going back home to Nebraska. It would be an incredible bounce back by the Sooners to absorb that type of loss and land Maxwell.

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