Duke draws powerhouse Oklahoma rematch in opening game of Women’s College World Series

For the first time in school history, the Blue Devils softball team reached the Women’s College World Series, but the road doesn’t get easier.

The Duke softball team finally made it to the Women’s College World Series, and the Blue Devils will be rewarded with a game against the most intimidating program in the sport.

Duke will play the Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the final bracket. The Sooners have famously won each of the last three national titles, and after the Norman Super Regional, OU has a 54-6 record so far this season.

The Sooners and Blue Devils actually already played once this year, Duke’s first game of the season and Oklahoma’s second. The Blue Devils held their own well down in Mexico, but the Sooners won 3-0 after they scored all of their runs in the third inning. Duke only managed three hits in the game.

Duke comes in as a changed team in phenomenal form, however. After winning both the regular-season title and the conference tournament in the ACC, the Blue Devils swept the Durham Regional before going on the road to Missouri and beating the Tigers in a best-of-three series to advance. After eight scoreless innings, Duke hung four runs on the board in the top of the ninth for the win.

Duke’s first-ever game in Oklahoma City starts at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, and Blue Devils fans can watch on ESPN.