NCAA Softball: Sydney Pennington hits home run, father catches it over the fence
/You could practice it a thousand times and it would never happen on purpose. But in game one of Oklahoma State softball’s series against the University of Kansas, sophomore standout Sydney Pennington hit a three-run homer over the left field fence, directly into the ungloved hand of her father.
Pennington is a 2017 graduate of Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She is seventh on her team in batting average at .292 and second in home runs. She has cleared the stadium nine times this season and sixteen times in her career.
Cowgirl softball fans often park their trucks in the grass just outside the left field fence to watch from their tailgates. In an 8-1 Friday victory, Pennington went yard and the ball found Brett Pennington ready and waiting.
The entire play was caught on camera and can be viewed below.
Brett is no stranger to division one athletics. A two-time undefeated high school wrestling State Champion, he was offered a full ride to wrestle for the Oklahoma Sooners before retiring from the mat due to asthma. He then went to Connor’s State for baseball before finally ending up in the Crimson and Cream from 1995-1996. Now he has added softball outfield experience to his collegiate resume.
The Pokes are 29-11 this season with a 7-2 conference record. They are ranked 16th in the nation and are second in the Big 12. Their only league losses are to No. 10 Texas and Baylor. They will return to action with a three-game series against Iowa State (22-15, 1-5) Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Ames.
Sydney Pennington is one of only five Cowgirls to play all forty games this season. She has 35 hits, 24 runs, 29 RBI, and a .938 fielding average. She was a Big 12 All-Freshman last season, playing left field and shortstop. She has been playing third base this season.
Pennington season highlights…
Hit a solo homer in a 3-0 win against Sam Houston State.
Hit an RBI single to take the lead in a 13-2 victory over Hofstra.
Hit an RBI double in an 8-0 shutout of Syracuse.
Homered in a 12-2 run-rule win over McNeese State.
Went yard in both games of a double-header sweep of No.24 Oregon.
Batted 3-of-4 with two homers in a 16-1 run-rule of Central Arkansas.
Had her fourth-straight multi-hit game in an 8-0 shutout of Samford.
Scored the lone run in a 10-1 loss to No. 22 Ole Miss.
Hit a three-run homer, a double, and 5 RBIs in a 21-2 run-rule of Baylor.
Went 3-of-4 with two doubles in a 7-3 win over Kansas.
B5 | LIGHT 'EM UP!!! @Sydneyp_21 skies a three-run shot over the wall in left center to make it a 7-1 lead! It's her career-high 9⃣th of the year. #okstate pic.twitter.com/FmfZ0nEIaQ
— Cowgirl Softball (@CowgirlSB) April 5, 2019