Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

College Football

Extra innings: Jocelyn Alo’s record setting weekend, Arkansas’ perfection, a Texas milestone and more

Maren Angus

By Maren Angus

Published:

Each week our college softball insider Maren Angus shares the biggest stories in and around the SEC.

Jocelyn Alo breaks NCAA HR record

On a 2-1 count in the 6th inning against Hawaii, in Hawaii, Jocelyn Alo became the NCAA’s newest career home run leader when she launched No. 96 deep to right-centerfield. Alo, a native Hawaiian, was playing at home for the first time since high school.

The Oklahoma Sooner senior broke the record once held by former Sooner standout Lauren Chamberlain.

Annie Willis shuts down No. 3 Florida

Mississippi State graduate pitcher Annie Willis pitched a 9-strikeout, complete-game gem on Sunday. Willis shut out Florida and gave MSU its first win over a top-5 team since 2019. It was also the first shutout against Florida since 2005.

Willis collected her 10th career shutout and was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week.

Raelin Chaffin slams the door on Alabama

LSU freshman pitcher Raelin Chaffin was named SEC Freshman of the Week after a superb outing against No. 4 Alabama. She was 1 batter shy of a perfect game, retiring 21 of 22 and giving up 1 hit.

Chaffin gave up a home run in the second inning and then sat down 17 consecutive Crimson Tide batters.

Woo Pig

Senior pitcher Mary Haff pitched the first solo, 7-inning perfect game in Arkansas program history on Friday against Maryland. She struck out 14 and is now tied for the program lead in double-digit strikeout appearances. Haff also pitched 2 innings against Liberty. She has retired 27 consecutive batters.

Sophomore Hannah Gammill was 6-for-6 with 3 home runs, 8 runs, 7 RBIs and a double in 3 games. Through 21 games this season, she ranks first in the nation in slugging percentage (1.180).

Lauren Johnson did what?

Kentucky outfielder Lauren Johnson made an incredible over-the-wall catch to end the top of the 6th against Buffalo in Lexington over the weekend. She has a .971 fielding percentage this season with 33 putouts in 34 chances.

She is pretty good at the plate, too. Johnson is second on the team with a .470 batting average. She has 35 hits, 25 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 17 RBIs.

Jenna Johnson shines for the Tide

Have yourself a weekend, Jenna Johnson. The outfielder was 5-for-8 over the weekend with 4 RBIs, 2 homers and 2 runs scored. Not only was she a stud at the dish, but she made a play in the outfield that is top play noteworthy.

The scoop, the shoot and the tag by catcher Ally Shipman. It was a work of art. Hang it in the Louvre.

Kendra Falby races home to clinch series for Florida

Blink and you’ll miss Kendra Falby as she hit an inside-the-park home run against Mississippi State in the bottom of the 6th that proved to be the game-winner on Monday night. Falby ripped a 2-strike pitch off the centerfield wall that ricocheted enough to be waved home. The Gators went on to win the game 3-0.

Courtney Coppersmith is perfection

UMBC earns a nod this week and rightfully so. Courtney Coppersmith pitched the 2nd perfect game of her career, striking out 20 batters in a 1-0 win over Brown. It was her first complete game of the season. Before her 20-strikeout performance, she pitched 2 innings against Hofstra and struck out 6. I don’t know about you, but 26 strikeouts in 9 innings isn’t too bad, is it?

Her head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer happens to be an LSU grad, so there’s the SEC connection.

Georgina Corrick is on fire

Hitters beware, USF ace Georgina Corrick is nearly untouchable. She finished 4-0 over the weekend, tossed 23 2/3 innings and only allowed 3 hits and 2 walks. She also struck out 42 and lowered her ERA to 0.06! So far this season, she is 17-0 with a save and 169 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched.

The only run she has given up was against Oklahoma State on Feb. 19. Oh, she has only walked 7. So, I will let you figure out the strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Western Kentucky downs then-No. 24 Charlotte

Conference USA is alive and well this season. Charlotte came into the weekend ranked No. 24 and Western Kentucky handed them a series loss. The Hilltoppers clinched a series win against a ranked opponent for the first time since 2013.

Brylee Hage was named Conference-USA Player of the Week after going 5-for-12 with a home run, two doubles and 5 RBIs. She became the third player from WKU to earn the honors this season.

A Texas milestone

Janae Jefferson became the first Longhorn to reach 300 career hits in program history when she ripped a bases-loaded double Wednesday night against Louisiana.

It was only a matter of time until she reached the magic number. Jefferson became the Longhorns’ career hits leader last year.

Her next challenge? Becoming the Big 12’s career hits leader. She’s closing in on that, too.

Iowa State’s Sami Williams holds the mark with 332 career hits.

Maren Angus

Maren Angus is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has covered softball for various outlets over the last several years. When she isn’t watching softball, she is obsessing over the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing ice hockey with her husband or trying to avoid singing Baby Shark with her stepdaughter.

You might also like...

2025 RANKINGS

presented by rankings