Kasidi Pickering of OU softball breaks her slump just in time for the NCAA Tournament, improving her performance after a tough stretch. Her return to form adds strength to an already formidable offense.
Key points
Kasidi Pickering breaks her hitting slump
She had a .139 batting average before the NCAA Tournament
Pickering focused on practice and next at-bats
Her performance boosts OU softball's offense
Kasidi PickeringOklahoma SoonersNCAA Tournament
OU softball offense gets even scarier in NCAA Tournament as Kasidi Pickering breaks slump
NORMAN â Kasidi Pickering didnât change a thing amidst her uncharacteristic slump.
Oklahomaâs junior outfielder entered postseason play five for her last 36 at the plate, equivalent to a .139 batting average.
âI mean, it was a long drought, I guess you could say,â Pickering said postgame. âSo just being present in practice and just knowing that you can't change the past, so whatever happens, just work on the next at-bat.â
It appears Pickering has figured things out. The NFCA First-Team All-Region selection started the Soonersâ home run party Friday with a deep two-run shot to left center field during OUâs 11-0 run-rule victory over Binghamton to kick off the Norman Regional. She finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored in the win.
Pickering has been one of the Soonersâ most feared hitters in her three seasons and tends to elevate her play in the NCAA Tournament. Last season around this time, she hit a pair of home runs and drove in six in OU's first game against Cal in the Norman Regional.
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Oklahoma's Isabela Emerling (13) hits a single in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kasidi Pickering (7) celebrates a home run in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kasidi Pickering (7) celebrates a home run in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kai Minor (22) catches a fly ball in the second inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kai Minor (22) celebrates a home run in the third inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Ella Parker (5) catches a fly ball in the third inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Audrey Lowry (24) throws a pitch in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Oklahoma's Audrey Lowry (24) throws a pitch in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Isabela Emerling (13) hits a single in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Isabela Emerling (13) hits a single in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Kasidi Pickering (7) celebrates a home run in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Kasidi Pickering (7) celebrates a home run in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Kai Minor (22) catches a fly ball in the second inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Kai Minor (22) celebrates a home run in the third inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Ella Parker (5) catches a fly ball in the third inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Audrey Lowry (24) throws a pitch in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
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Oklahoma Sooners vs Binghamton Bearcats in NCAA softball regional, see our top photos
Oklahoma's Audrey Lowry (24) throws a pitch in the first inning during the NCAA Norman Softball Regional game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Binghamton Bearcats at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., May, 15, 2026.
Sooners coach Patty Gasso knew sheâd pick things up offensively.
âShe is completely fine,â Gasso said of Pickering. âShe is right where she needs to be and I donât have to worry about her because she is that kind of player that can set herself back up and reset, and sheâs done that, so sheâs good to go.â
OUâs offense, led by Pickering, Ailana Agbayani and freshmen Kai Minor and Kendall Wells, exploded for 12 hits and four homers.
âItâs just a great way to get started,â Gasso said. âWeâve been waiting. This Georgia thing has been on us and you just move on and we got rid of it at practice. We really worked hard. We really worked efficiently I thought at practice so to see us score the way we did and just set a tone is really, really important. And they stepped up at the right times.â
Following the Soonersâ collapse against the Bulldogs in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, they got together as a team vying for postseason play to be different. After a couple of practices this week, OU is confident itâs turned the tide.
If Pickering is back to form, the Soonersâ offense could be even scarier as they try for national title No. 5 in six years. Next, OU faces either Kansas or Michigan in its second game of the Norman Regional at 2 p.m. Saturday at Loveâs Field.
âAs a team we all just talked about, this is a new start to the season,â Pickering said. âThis is the last fourth of the season so just coming out today is a fresh start and we practiced all week so we were prepared for it.â
