Go Boomer: Campbell star pitcher Isabella Smith commits to OU softball

OU softball has landed a pitcher in the transfer portal. OK, not THAT pitcher, but this was a crucial piece to add for the Sooners.

Yes, the pursuit of former Stanford star pitcher NiJaree Canady continues. There’s no doubt about that. But OU needed more than one pitcher in this transfer portal cycle.

Now that box is checked off for head coach Patty Gasso. OU is bringing former Campbell star pitcher Isabella Smith to Norman.

It has been a good recipe the last couple of years. Take a workhorse pitcher (Alex Storako, Karlie Keeney) and bring them in to no longer be the 200 innings type of pitcher.

The fourth addition is in the books.

Isabella Smith, P, Campbell (1 year)

What didn’t Smith do at Campbell? The CAA Pitcher of the Year, Smith went 26-7 in 2024 with a 1.56 ERA. Included in that was 18 complete games, nine shutouts, two saves and 239 strikeouts in 206 innings. Smith threw two no-hitters. She also had a huge moment in helping Campbell defeat Duke in April. She holds the school record for career strikeouts (638), career wins (70), single-season wins (29), single-season appearances (49), and single-season strikeouts (241). 

OU transfer portal commitments

Ailana Agbayani, SS, BYU (2 years)

Coming off a brilliant sophomore season. Agbayani hit .424 at the plate. She had five home runs and drove in 33 runs. Agbayani also knew how to get on base, with 30 walks, hit 11 times and only struck out seven times in 165 plate appearances. She had some of her best games against the best teams. Drove in a season-high three in one game against Oklahoma State. And OU fans might remember Agbayani with four hits, two doubles and two RBIs in the shocking 9-4 win for the Cougars at Love’s Field.

Isabela Emerling, C, North Carolina (2 years)

Emerling will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and is coming off a fantastic sophomore season. Emerling hit .323 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. And she’ll have some guidance from a former catcher, if needed, as Kinzie Hansen is staying in Norman as a grad assistant. The leap Emerling made from freshman to sophomore season was impressive. She’s someone who is still getting better.

Abby Dayton, OF, Utah (2 years)

The batting champ of the Pac-12, hitting .431 last season. Dayton was All-Pac-12 in each of her first two seasons. She was a third-team All-American as a sophomore. Dayton added two home runs and 28 RBIs this season and earned 27 walks. Dayton also made some spectacular plays in center, something OU fans know all too well.

Who’s leaving? Who’s returning?

We’ve said it repeatedly, but again, 2025 is going to be incredibly different. There are so many names OU fans and softball fans have been accustomed to hearing that are gone.

That senior class went 235-15 with the four national championships.

“This generation, they’ve taught me a lot about coaching,” Gasso said. “They taught me how to accept who they are and how it looks. I mean, I think that has a lot to do with a lot of things, that I just allowed them to be them. It’s hard sometimes because some of it I’m like, oh, no. But it’s important to them. They’ve taught me how to coach better.”

OU lost 10 seniors. Then add another three in the portal (Avery Hodge, Quincee Lilio, SJ Geurin). Hodge is going to LSU. Geurin is headed to Auburn. Lilio, also staying in the SEC, at South Carolina.

OU has eight players coming back and is adding eight freshmen. Based on the usual OU numbers, and after adding Emerling, Dayton, Agbayani and Smith, you can assume there is at least one spot left. And we all know who, NiJaree Canady.

Let the fun continue.