The Braves captured the program's seventh KCAC championship and its third straight in 2023. Ottawa made its fifth appearance in the NAIA opening round. OU had a record of 42-11 and a KCAC mark of 21-3. It was the third time in program history that the Braves have won 40 or more games in a season.
Ottawa was selected to win its fourth straight KCAC Champion by the conference coaches in the 2024 KCAC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll. This is the 10th straight season that OU has been picked to finish first or second in the KCAC. The Braves received 193 points and 11 of the 14 first place votes.
Last season, as a team, Ottawa had a .287 batting average, a .379 on base percentage, and a .424 slugging percentage. The Braves hit 31 home runs and scored 324 home runs.
Ottawa finished the season ranked 41st in the NAIA in at bats (1,409), 27th in runs (324), 23rd in doubles (88), 27th in home runs (31), 31st in RBI (270), 31st in extra base hits (125), 47th in total bases (597), sixth in walks (181), 26th in hit by pitch (37), 40th in sacrifice flies (14), 37th in stolen bases (101), 46th in ERA (2.65), 41st in shut outs (10), 45th in at bats against (1,344), and 39th in opponent batting average (.241).
The Braves return 23 from its 2023 team:
Staci Bond,
Cierra Faubion,
Reagan Hammons,
Rachel Pederson,
Emma Melvin (Honorable Mention All-KCAC),
Julia Waltman,
Elizabeth Palmer,
Rayna Sadler,
Kara Hafenstine,
Hallie Robison,
Loralei Gilbert (1st Team All-KCAC),
Devanie Medina,
Daisi Salas,
Katie Enneking (Honorable Mention All-KCAC),
Peytin Hudson,
Macey Morris,
Nayely Delgado (2nd Team All-KCAC),
CaiLyn Nye,
Lyllian McKay,
Ashlynn Mercer (1st Team All-KCAC),
Cesara Roque,
Zoe Butts, and
Jillian Kygar.
OU has 13 newcomers on its roster for 2024:
Addison Spencer,
Madison Carney,
Megan Kennedy,
Morgan Bradford,
Tessa Johnston,
Macy Roever,
Takiya Hill,
Jordan Piche,
Riley Titus,
Laurin Andrews,
Jada Brown,
Lanie Becker,
Lauren Beckham,
Hastings College finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 18-25 and a GPAC mark of 11-11. The Broncos had a .272 batting average, a .346 on base percentage, and a .390 slugging percentage. They hit 25 home runs and score 192 runs.
The Broncos return Honorable Mention All-GPAC performers Lexie Mudloff, Katyn Kappler, Kyleigh Boever, and Macie Mays for 2024.
Hastings was selected to finish sixth in the conference in the 2024 GPAC Softball Coaches' Poll.
