Nelly McEnroe-Marinas announce her retirement due to…..

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:37 a.m. Oct. 14 to reflect that OU’s next game is against Texas A&M Commerce at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Commerce, Texas. OU will close out the Battle Series at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 in Norman.

Nelly McEnroe-Marinas spent last season watching from the sidelines.

Now, the redshirt freshman who was out last year due to a season-ending injury she acquired during the preseason, has already made an impact during OU softball’s Battle Series.

From start to finish, McEnroe-Marinas demonstrated her offensive prowess. In the first inning, she opened the night with a well-placed single, setting the tone early. By the third inning, McEnroe-Marinas was locked in at the plate. With runners in scoring position, she delivered again, driving a hard-hit double down the left-field line. The extra-base hit drove in a run, helping her team take the lead.

“She reminds me so much of (former OU player) Syd Romero, and that’s a very good comparison, and something that I think she would be excited to hear,” Gasso said on Wednesday. “She’s still a redshirt, she’s a freshman, but she’s fallen in and is really fighting for that spot. I’m really excited for that for Nelly.”

As McEnroe-Marinas embodies Romero, who was an infielder for the Sooners from 2016-19 and an All-American selection in 2018 and 2019, Gasso’s praise highlights just how significant the infielder’s return has been for the Sooners.