The transfer portal plays a key role in college sports, and softball is no different.
It's a tool that has helped OU win four straight national championships with the additions of players such as Alyssa Brito and Hope Trautwein. It has also helped OSU make five straight Women's College World Series appearances by adding players such as Lexi Kilfoyl and Rachel Becker.
But the transfer portal can take away talent from a team's roster just as easily, and OU and OSU aren't immune. A total of six players transferred out of the two programs last offseason.
Here's where those players landed and how they fared this season.
More:Celebrate OU softball winning NCAA-record fourth straight WCWS title with our new book
2023 OU softball transfers
Jordy Bahl, P, Nebraska
Bahl earned two NFCA All-American first-team selections in two seasons with OU. She helped the Sooners win two national championships with a career ERA of 0.99 and 397 strikeouts in 299 ⅔ innings pitched.
But the star pitcher transferred to Nebraska on June 15, 2023. It was a chance to move closer to home for Bahl, who's from Papillion, Nebraska.
Unfortunately, Bahl suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third inning of Nebraska's season opener against Washington on Feb. 8. She'll look to bounce back with the Cornhuskers as a redshirt junior next season.
More:What does OU softball need to do in transfer portal? Here are Sooners' top areas of need
Jocelyn Erickson, C, Florida
Erickson recorded 31 RBIs, 24 runs and seven homers with a .323 batting average as a freshman at OU in 2023. But she transferred to Florida on July 14, 2023, and took on a larger role.
Erickson made the most of it. The sophom*ore catcher racked up 86 RBIs, 48 runs and 15 homers with a .389 batting average this season.
Erickson was named the SEC Player of the Year, the Softball America Defender of the Year and an NFCA first team All-American. She led Florida to the Women's College World Series semifinals, where it got eliminated by OU.
More:College softball transfer portal rankings: What are NiJaree Canady's transfer plans?
Sophia Nugent, C, Tennessee
Nugent spent the first two years of her college career with OU. She recorded 28 RBIs, 19 runs and eight homers with a .278 batting average during that time, although she only started in 19 of her 73 appearances.
Nugent then transferred to Tennessee on June 21, 2023, and she started in 52 of her 55 appearances this season. The junior catcher tallied 38 RBIs, 23 runs and 11 homers with a .275 batting average.
The Lady Volunteers earned the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they fell short of making their second straight WCWS appearance. Tennessee suffered a 2-1 series loss to No. 14 Alabama in the Knoxville Super Regional.
More:Why OU softball's Ella Parker, Kasidi Pickering give plenty of hope for Sooners' future
2023 Oklahoma State softball transfers
Tatum Clopton, P, LSU
Clopton spent the first two years of her college career with OSU.
She appeared in six games as a freshman in 2022 and recorded a 5.00 ERA with eight strikeouts in nine innings pitched. But Clopton suffered a shoulder injury the following offseason and redshirted the 2023 campaign.
Clopton then transferred to LSU on July 31, 2023. She redshirted this season with the Tigers, who earned the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament but suffered a 2-1 series loss to No. 8 Stanford in the Stanford Super Regional.
More:Oklahoma State softball transfer tracker 2024: Latest portal news, Cowgirls roster updates
Kelly Maxwell, P, Oklahoma
Maxwell spent the first five years of her college career with OSU. She posted a 58-20 record with 746 strikeouts and a 1.58 ERA in 494 2/3 innings pitched during that time.
Maxwell then transferred to OU on Aug. 3, 2023. The graduate pitcher went 23-2 with a 1.94 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 155 1/3 innings this season.
Maxwell earned an All-Big 12 first team selection, and she was named the WCWS Most Outstanding Player for leading OU to a title.
Bailie Runner, P, Central Arkansas
Runner is a former Oologah High standout who spent the first two seasons of her college career with OSU. She made two appearances and recorded an 11.25 ERA with one strikeout in four innings pitched.
Runner then transferred to Central Arkansas on July 1, 2023. She recorded a 1.66 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 33 ⅔ innings pitched this season.
Central Arkansas went 26-27-1. Its season ended with a 9-3 loss to Eastern Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the ASUN Championships.
More:NiJaree Canady could've been a Cowgirl. Stanford softball star denied OSU again in WCWS.
