Sooner Softball Adds Standout Pitcher In Transfer

Kelsey Stevens, who recently completed her freshman season at Stanford University, has transferred to the University of Oklahoma, Sooners head coach Patty Gasso announced Tuesday. A pitcher, Stevens will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in the spring of 2014.

"We've watched Kelsey since she was in high school and were impressed with her skills," Gasso said. "She refined those skills at Stanford and was very tough against us when we faced her last season. We look forward to her joining our pitching staff.

"She will be a great addition and gives us experience in the circle, which we will need. We return a strong offense next season, and I believe that will help enable Kelsey to thrive and have great success with our program."

A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Stevens was named to the All-Pac 12 Freshman Team in 2013, going 15-7 with a 2.99 earned run average and a team-best 163 strikeouts in 136.0 innings. She made 35 appearances in the circle, 21 of which were starts, and threw 10 complete games with seven shutouts.

Stevens faced the Sooners in OU's season opener on Feb. 8. After Oklahoma scored five runs in the top of the first, Stevens entered in the second inning and proceeded to strike out seven batters while limiting the Sooners to one run and two hits over the game's final six innings.

In the second start of her career, she struck out a career-best 12 batters against Kentucky on Feb. 10. That game against the Wildcats marked the beginning of 36.1-innings streak where Stevens did not give up an earned run, lasting until March 1 against Iowa. On Feb. 23, Stevens threw the 10th perfect game in Cardinal history as she struck out 10 in a win over Virginia.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association named Stevens their Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week on Feb. 26. In addition to her perfect game, Stevens was 3-0 with a pair of complete game shutouts, a 0.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings of work. She allowed No. 13 Georgia, Virginia and No. 23 Florida State to total just seven hits and a .115 combined batting average in those three games.

During conference play, Stevens picked up wins over then-No. 24 Oregon and then-No. 14 Washington, while also matching her career high in strikeouts in a one-hitter against then-No. 12 Cal.