Saturday, March 7
Norman, OK
11 a.m.
Abilene Christian
vs
Louisiana
Photo by: Aly Bayliss
Maxwell Finds Power, Makes Homecoming to Oklahoma
3/6/2026 8:37:00 AM | Softball
On a Saturday that felt ordinary until it wasn't, ACU outfielder Ari Maxwell turned a day at the ballpark into a personal power surge, launching three home runs across two games — two against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and another against North Texas — on the final day of the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic last week. For Maxwell, the performance wasn't about chasing numbers or swinging for the fences. It was about staying present, staying patient, and trusting her process.
"It was definitely just a normal day," Maxwell said. "I had to slow things down and really focus on ways to help the team. I was just telling myself, get on base, get on base, get on base, and whatever happens, happens."
That mindset paid off in a big way. Maxwell worked deep into counts, saw pitches, and then unleashed the kind of power that doesn't happen by accident.
"I had a couple at-bats where I went five pitches and I was like, 'I've seen a lot of pitches here. I have a chance to go yard,'" she said.
Finding Her Power
Maxwell's power isn't new—it's just showing up more often. She already has more home runs (4) than she hit all of last season (2), and she knows exactly where that pop comes from.
"When my hips get started and I see the ball for a long time, that's when I know I'm going to hit the ball hard," Maxwell said. "When my hips are going and my hips see the ball first, I know I'm about to hit this ball hard."
Back to Oklahoma
This weekend, Maxwell and the Wildcats head to Norman, Okla. — just 35 miles south of her hometown of Edmond — to play at Oklahoma's Love's Field, one of the most iconic venues in college softball. It's a homecoming she's been looking forward to since the schedule dropped.
"I was really excited," Maxwell said. "I grew up watching OU, so it was really surreal to play there last year. When I found out we were going back, it was even better because I love the environment—really good fans, really good people. I just grew up around all of it, so it's really fun to be back."
The best part? She'll have a full cheering section.
"Oh yes, I have uncles, my grandma's coming. My brother is stationed, so he won't make it, but everybody else is really showing up for OU," she said.
Believing in the Process
ACU is still early in its season and working to put together wins, but Maxwell said the team isn't losing sight of the bigger picture.
"We're a very young team, so it's a big growth thing for us," she said. "We're taking it step by step, and even though we're not getting our results yet, we know that someday our results are going to come because we're taking the little things to get to our big results."
And with a long road stretch ahead — including a trip to Utah for four games next week — Maxwell is looking forward to the time together.
"Last year it was really fun," she said. "We created a lot more team chemistry on road trips. I think they really brought us all together, and I'm excited to spend all of spring break with our team. It can't do anything but make us closer."
Schedule Change
The possibility of rain has forced a change to Oklahoma's Okana Invitational. The event will now only be held Saturday and Sunday with two games each day for ACU.
Saturday, March 7
ACU v. Louisiana - 11 a.m.
ACU at #6 Oklahoma - 2 p.m. (streamed on SEC Network+)
Sunday, March 8
ACU v. Louisiana - 10 a.m.
ACU at #6 Oklahoma - 3 p.m. (streamed on SEC Network+)
"It was definitely just a normal day," Maxwell said. "I had to slow things down and really focus on ways to help the team. I was just telling myself, get on base, get on base, get on base, and whatever happens, happens."
That mindset paid off in a big way. Maxwell worked deep into counts, saw pitches, and then unleashed the kind of power that doesn't happen by accident.
"I had a couple at-bats where I went five pitches and I was like, 'I've seen a lot of pitches here. I have a chance to go yard,'" she said.
Finding Her Power
Maxwell's power isn't new—it's just showing up more often. She already has more home runs (4) than she hit all of last season (2), and she knows exactly where that pop comes from.
"When my hips get started and I see the ball for a long time, that's when I know I'm going to hit the ball hard," Maxwell said. "When my hips are going and my hips see the ball first, I know I'm about to hit this ball hard."
Back to Oklahoma
This weekend, Maxwell and the Wildcats head to Norman, Okla. — just 35 miles south of her hometown of Edmond — to play at Oklahoma's Love's Field, one of the most iconic venues in college softball. It's a homecoming she's been looking forward to since the schedule dropped.
"I was really excited," Maxwell said. "I grew up watching OU, so it was really surreal to play there last year. When I found out we were going back, it was even better because I love the environment—really good fans, really good people. I just grew up around all of it, so it's really fun to be back."
The best part? She'll have a full cheering section.
"Oh yes, I have uncles, my grandma's coming. My brother is stationed, so he won't make it, but everybody else is really showing up for OU," she said.
Believing in the Process
ACU is still early in its season and working to put together wins, but Maxwell said the team isn't losing sight of the bigger picture.
"We're a very young team, so it's a big growth thing for us," she said. "We're taking it step by step, and even though we're not getting our results yet, we know that someday our results are going to come because we're taking the little things to get to our big results."
And with a long road stretch ahead — including a trip to Utah for four games next week — Maxwell is looking forward to the time together.
"Last year it was really fun," she said. "We created a lot more team chemistry on road trips. I think they really brought us all together, and I'm excited to spend all of spring break with our team. It can't do anything but make us closer."
Schedule Change
The possibility of rain has forced a change to Oklahoma's Okana Invitational. The event will now only be held Saturday and Sunday with two games each day for ACU.
Saturday, March 7
ACU v. Louisiana - 11 a.m.
ACU at #6 Oklahoma - 2 p.m. (streamed on SEC Network+)
Sunday, March 8
ACU v. Louisiana - 10 a.m.
ACU at #6 Oklahoma - 3 p.m. (streamed on SEC Network+)
Players Mentioned
OF
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