Nelly McEnroe-Marinas Delivers Statement Weekend as Oklahoma Opens 2026 Season with Firepower
While Gabbie Garcia’s four-home-run outburst rightfully turned heads during Oklahoma’s opening weekend in Arizona, it was Nelly McEnroe-Marinas who quietly put together one of the most complete offensive performances of the early season. And if you weren’t paying close attention, you might’ve missed just how dominant she was at the plate.
McEnroe-Marinas went a blistering 7-for-8 across the Sooners’ first four games against Arizona State and No. 15 Arizona.
That’s not a typo - seven hits in eight official at-bats, plus a home run, three RBIs, four runs scored, four walks, and two hit-by-pitches. She reached base in 13 of her 14 plate appearances.
That’s not just hot - that’s surgical.
“She started with a bang,” head coach Patty Gasso said postgame. “You say 7-for-8, and I read that, like, ‘She was?’
Because we get out into that thin air, and we’re like, ‘Gabbie hit-who hit how many home runs?’ (McEnroe-Marinas) was just consistent.”
And that’s exactly what Oklahoma needs as it reloads for another title run - consistency at the top, especially from a player who can set the table or drive in runs when needed. McEnroe-Marinas delivered at least one hit in each of the four games, including a pair of multi-hit performances.
Her three-hit outing in the series-clinching win over Arizona on Sunday stood out, not just for the numbers, but for the timing. She came through when it mattered most.
While Garcia’s power surge provided the fireworks, McEnroe-Marinas was the steady heartbeat of the lineup - getting on base, extending innings, and applying pressure every time she stepped in the box. This wasn’t just a hot weekend; it was a tone-setter for what could be a breakout season.
Oklahoma came into the year ranked No. 4, but if this lineup keeps producing like this - with explosive power from the likes of Garcia and relentless table-setting from McEnroe-Marinas - that number might not stay static for long. The Sooners look deep, dangerous, and already in midseason form.
And if McEnroe-Marinas keeps swinging it like this, she won’t be flying under the radar much longer.