SHAWNEE – There are five games for Oklahoma Baptist starting on Friday, Jan. 30 in Mansfield, Texas. OBU opens its season against Minnesota State Moorhead and UT Dallas beginning tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Here are quick hits as the 2026 season begins.
For the Bison:
Pitcher
Jaycee Shaffer returns after compiling a 19-3 record in the circle last season. Her .863 winning percentage was third-highest in school history.
Kaley Cook was sensational as a freshman. The All-GAC selection posted a league- and single-season school record eight triples and notched 42 stolen bags, second-most in OBU history.
Ally Ryan has 27 homers coming into her final season. That slots her fifth in school history. Jayme Boyer (2006-09) has the program record of 46.
Senior
Greenlee Wells had the fourth-most RBI (52) in school history last season.
Head Coach
Jace Brewer's 36 wins in 2025 were the most by a first-year coach in OBU Softball history. Also, his .679 winning percentage is currently second in school history.
MSU Moorhead:
The Dragons are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Last season, they posted a 20-37 record. Of note, MSUM lost its top three batters in Avery Steffen, Annika Norman and Eliya Johnson who combined for 192 of the team's 405 hits in 2025. That trio also accounted for 102 of the team's 198 runs scored.
UT Dallas:
The Comets are members of the Lone Star Conference. In 2025 UTD posted a record of 17-18. They are in the midst of transitioning into Division II. Claire Pollack and Julia Maniscalco return for UT Dallas. They combined for 69 hits, 11 doubles and 36 runs batted it in 2025.
Northwest Missouri State:
Members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, the Bearcats posted a 22-27 record last year. Northwest lost its top four hitters from 2025. That includes Katy John who posted 64 hits and Ashley Pride who notched a team-high 10 homers with 48 RBI.
Eastern New Mexico:
Another Lone Star Conference team, the Greyhounds went 30-25 last season. Sophomore Christine Meneses is the top returning offensive player. She posted a team-high 18 doubles last year and drove in 46. ENMU's top pitcher, Miranda Guillen, also returns after posting a 3.13 ERA with 15 wins last year.
Missouri Southern:
The last team OBU will face in Mansfield, Missouri Southern is another member of the MIAA. The Lions registered a 39-19 overall record last season and won two games in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament before falling to Augustana (SD). MSSU's top two hitters – Bailey Dillon and Katie Gray – return. They each registered at least 62 hits and combined for 23 doubles while Gray had 15 homers, the 22nd-best mark in DII last year.
