Brianna Turang knows the pressures of being a student-athlete in college. Struggling to juggle books, class schedules and practice sessions comes with the territory.

When most students are cramming for tests and midterms, Turang can be found packing for a weekend double-header or working on conditioning drills on the softball diamond.

And just like the rest of her teammates, Turang knows the value of an offseason.

It is that all-too-important time of the year when student-athletes get to relax and heal tired muscles for the next season. They get to catch up with friends who were lost in the overwhelming regular season time commitments. But what Turang does in the offseason may surprise you.

Because for Turang, there is no offseason.

The sophomore is a dual-sport athlete at OU — a member of both the softball and soccer teams. Fortunately for her, the two sports’ seasons are on opposite sides of the calendar.

For dual-sport athletes, the inability to select between two favored sports outranks the value of being married to a single game or having opportunities for some down time. Coaches don’t promote the need for a two-sport path for an obvious reason: They want their athletes to excel to the top levels in their sport. Splitting attention between two sports can hurt the focus of less-determined athletes, not to mention how much wear and tear the body must go through when participating in competitions year round.

Turang wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My body gets really tired actually, but it’s all worth it,” Turang said. “Growing up I’ve been playing both, so I know what to expect.”

The softball and soccer standout from Santiago High School (Calif.) was a four-year letter winner and a three-time all-league honoree in her prospective sports. She was a two-time All-CIF player after her soccer team won the California Interscholastic Federation Championship in 2006. Turang also earned all-state honors for softball in 2008. The decision to continue both sports in her college wasn’t a hard one to make, she said.

“I couldn’t choose one if I wanted to,” Turang said. “They’re completely different to me. I know it’s tough, but like I said, it’s worth it to me.”

OU sports fans should be thankful she didn’t have to choose.

As a freshman outfielder in softball, Turang started 36 games, collecting 40 hits, 19 scored runs and 20 stolen bases for the Sooners. Turang’s greatest asset is her speed, and softball teams around the country had problems slowing her down.

One of the biggest games for Turang came early in the spring season during the Cathedral City Classic against San Diego State. Turang went two-for-three, driving in two runs and scoring one run in the 4-0 shutout to start off the tournament.

She also came up big during the second game of the Oklahoma Spring Festival against Northern Iowa. Turang went three-for-three in the six hole spot, knocking in one RBI and scoring one run. The Sooners run-ruled the Panthers 11-1 in five innings.

South of the Marita Hynes Softball Complex, Turang also excelled on the soccer field, playing in all 19 games and recorded two assists as a freshman.

The first was to then junior Whitney Palmer in the 41st minute against Missouri State in the 2009 season opener. The Sooners won 3-0.

The second set up then freshman Dria Hampton’s game-winning 15-yard shot in the 64th minute to beat Iowa State 1-0 last October, the Sooners’ first road win that season.

Turang rejoined the team last summer with not much rest because OU’s trip to an NCAA Super Regional stretched softball season into May. But Turang’s coaches made a difference for her during the transition period.

“I have two really great coaches that are understanding and keep me organized,” Turang said. “They keep me motivated and ready to play and they’re really supportive. Plus I’m willing to do whatever they say to get better.”

Her soccer coach, Nicole Nelson, said it doesn’t take long for Turang to switch over mentally.

“Brianna is just such an athlete and just handles the transition between the two sports phenomenally,” Nelson said.

Turang’s persistence in both sports continues to pay off. Turang collected her third career and second game-winning assist against Stephen F. Austin University last Sunday to sophomore Caitlin Mooney. The Sooners won the game 2-1 and improved to 2-1.

“Brianna is such an athlete,” Nelson said after Sunday’s game. “She’s such an exceptional player and it comes easy for her. She came off the benchand changed the first half for us.”

While Turang’s assists are definitely an asset to her team on offense, she continues to be listed as a defender because Nelson appreciates her skill at that position.

“She is very athletic at one-on-one defending,” Nelson said. “When she gets involved in the attack, good things happen.”

Sooner fans can see Turang and the OU soccer team compete at 1 p.m. Sunday against Colorado College at John Crain Field.