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The Oklahoma Sooners face the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a top 25 showdown, but what are the other top games this weekend.
The 2024 softball season is off and running, and tournament play from coast-to-coast continues this week.
The Oklahoma Sooners are heading west for the annual Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic for a five-game slate. Additionally, some fantastic matchups are happening in Austin, Raleigh and in Athens.
But what are the best matchups happening this weekend? Here’s a look at eight games we’re looking forward to.
Updated look at college softball power rankings after week 2.
Week 2 of the softball season is in the books. And while the action in Clearwater, Florida, getting halted due to weather left much to be desired, it was another fantastic week on the diamond.
There were a number of impressive performances across the country and we’re beginning to see the top teams separate themselves.
Oklahoma may be in a tier of its own because of what it has done over the last three-plus years, but teams such as Texas and Georgia have been impressive as well.
On the flip side, powerhouse programs UCLA and Florida State have had slow starts.
The SEC is beginning to establish itself as the premiere softball conference. Mississippi State and Kentucky have picked up big nonconference wins this season. In D1Softball’s latest top 25, 11 SEC programs are represented. That’s not even including Oklahoma and Texas who will officially be joining the SEC in July.
The Red River Rivals have been on a tear to start the season and look to be on a collision course for the Big 12 title in their final years.
Here’s a look at the latest D1Softball top 25 and where those teams rank in the Softball America power rankings.
Updated to include USA TODAY Sports NFCA Coaches Poll and USA Softball/ESPN Poll.
Oklahoma Sooners still No. 1 in the latest softball rankings. What do the rest of the rankings look like?
The opening week of softball action has come and gone. It was a great opening week of tournaments across the country. There were several surprises but a number of the top teams showed that they were indeed contenders to start the season.
Of the surprises, perhaps none was bigger than UCLA struggling with Maryland and San Diego while losing big to Texas and Oklahoma State in Southern California. The Bruins were bounced from the Los Angeles regional last May. Are they heading in the wrong direction as a program, or is this just an early-season funk.
Florida State dropped their opener to Charlotte, but responded well over their final four games of the week.
It’s just week one, but teams like Texas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma State made statements about their status as contenders in 2024.
The Oklahoma Sooners remained the No. 1 team in the nation in both D1Softball and Softball America’s latest top 25 rankings released on Monday.
Here’s a look at the top 10 teams in D1Softball’s top 25 and where they ranked according to Softball America.
The Oklahoma Sooners enter the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation by ESPN/USA Softball. How does the rest of the top 25 look?
The Oklahoma Sooners enter the season as the No. 1 team in the nation following a 61-1 season and third straight national championship.
Though they lost a number of impact players off of last year’s squad, they still feature some of the best that college softball has to offer. With Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, Kinzie Hansen and Alyssa Brito at the plate and Nicole May and Kelly Maxwell in the circle, the Sooners have a ton of star power that gives the Sooners a chance to do something that’s never been done before; win four consecutive national titles.
They’ll face challenges from across the country, but the Oklahoma Sooners have had a target on their back for years and continue to fend off all comers.
Who are the teams that are expected to be the biggest threats to the Queens of Softball’s crown? Here’s a look at the preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball top 25.
Taking a way-too-early stab at the 2024 season, D1Softball shared their predictions on which teams make the Women’s College World Series next year.
Coming off a national championship three-peat it should come as no surprise that the Oklahoma Sooners are expected back in the Women’s College World Series in 2024.
Looking ahead to 2024, D1Softball issued its way-too-early predictions (subscription required) for which teams make next year’s WCWS.
Of course, Oklahoma is expected to be in the mix.
Even without Bahl, the Sooners aren’t going away. Oklahoma still brings back a lot of talent from its 2023 roster. Every major contributor returns for the back-to-back-to-back champions aside from Bahl, Alex Storako, Haley Lee and Grace Lyons. Kierston Deal’s role will likely increase and become the second arm alongside Nicole May. Expect the Sooners to also add another big-time pitcher through the portal like they have done in the past few seasons. Jocelyn Erickson or Sophia Nugent can fill the designated player role. Who plays shortstop is a big question, but there are plenty of candidates – and potential transfer additions – that could take over. – Brady Vernon, D1Softball
Nugent entered the portal, but Oklahoma has options on the bench to replicate Haley Lee and Grace Lyons’ production from 2023.
From their No. 1 scoring lineup, the Sooners return everyone but Grace Lyons in the batting order. Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings lead the way for a squad hoping to do what no team has done: Win four in a row.
But they’ll have to do so without staff ace Jordy Bahl, who entered the transfer portal on Monday after two years with the Sooners.
Still, Oklahoma has Nicole May, who was fantastic in 2023, finishing with a sub-1.00 ERA. They’ll also put more on Kierston Deal’s plate after she showed well in relief in 2023.
Here’s who D1Softball is predicting to be back in Oklahoma City in 2024.
The semifinals are set for the Women’s College World Series. Here are the matchups and how you can tune in.
And then there were four. The Oklahoma Sooners and Florida State Seminoles have managed to get through their respective brackets unscathed and are just one win away from setting up a rematch of the 2021 Women’s College World Series.
Oklahoma will take on Stanford, who they beat 2-0 on Thursday to open the WCWS. Florida State will face Tennessee, who bounced back from their 9-0 loss to Oklahoma to eliminate Oklahoma State on Sunday.
Monday’s action promises to be a fun one, and by the end of it, we’ll know who will be facing off in the Women’s College World Series championship.
The Sooners and the Cardinals will kick off the day in the early time slot while the Seminoles and Volunteers get the primetime matchup. Both games can be seen on ESPN.
No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Stanford, 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.*
No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 4 Tennessee, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.*
*If necessary games to follow each of the semifinal matchups.
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A pair of elimination games take place on Sunday to determine who heads to the Women’s College World Series semifinals and who goes home.
On Saturday in the Women’s College World Series, the higher seeds held serve to advance to the semifinals. Oklahoma toppled Tennessee, 9-0, and Florida State won a close game against Washington, 3-1.
With Florida State and Oklahoma’s wins on Saturday, Tennessee and Washington change brackets in elimination play.
The Volunteers will take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. The winner of that matchup will face Florida State for a chance to go to the Women’s College World Series finals. The Seminoles beat Oklahoma State in their WCWS opener on Thursday.
Washington will take on Pac-12 conference mate Stanford. The winner of this conference showdown will face the back-to-back defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma beat Stanford on Thursday to open the Women’s College World Series.
Stanford and Oklahoma State have already survived one elimination game. The Cardinal beat Alabama, and the Cowgirls beat Utah to stay alive in the Women’s College World Series.
No. 9 Stanford vs. No. 7 Washington, 2 p.m. CT on ABC.
No. 6 Oklahoma State vs. No. 4 Tennessee, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
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Jordy Bahl allowed just one hit and one walk in Oklahoma’s dominating performance of the No. 4 seed Tennessee Volunteers.
There was no easing into this game for [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners as they took on the Tennessee Volunteers.
The first batter Bahl faced in the contest was arguably the biggest snub from the USA Softball National Player of the Year final three; centerfielder Kiki Milloy.
Milloy is hitting well over .400 on the season with 25 home runs and 56 RBIs.
In the opening at-bat, Bahl worked to a two-strike count before Milloy ripped a pitch down the third base line for a leadoff double. With a runner in scoring position after one batter, Jordy Bahl then locked in and went to work.
She retired the next nine hitters before surrendering a walk, only her second baserunner allowed.
It was Bahl’s second fabulous performance in a row, logging 3.2 innings pitched with one hit and one walk allowed to the No. 2 scoring offense in the country. Bahl’s now gone 13.2 innings pitched without allowing a run. She’s allowed just one run in her last seven appearances, spanning 27.2 innings.
Of course, Bahl was aided by some tremendous offense from the Sooners lineup. [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] put Oklahoma on the board first with a three-run home run, and [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] plated a pair with a two-run bomb. [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] provided a two-RBI triple.
In all, Oklahoma tagged Tennessee pitching for nine runs in the second and third innings of the game. With Bahl getting the start for the second consecutive day, it was important for the offense to jump on Tennessee early if only so Patty Gasso didn’t have to extend her ace any further than was necessary.
Now with Sunday off awaiting who will join the Sooners in the semifinals, Bahl should be well rested and available for Monday if [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] goes with the electric true sophomore for their semifinal matchup.
One thing’s for sure, it’s that Jordy Bahl has raised her game as the stakes have gotten higher here in the Women’s College World Series.
Bahl is now 20-1 on the season and has lowered her ERA to 1.00. Her swagger and her demeanor in the circle are infectious. With each strikeout and scoreless inning, Jordy Bahl is displaying why she’s one of the very best players in all of college softball.
The Oklahoma Sooners moved one win away from the Women’s College World Series Championship with their 9-0 run-rule win of Tennessee.
The Oklahoma Sooners put the pressure on early in their Women’s College World Series matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers. They were unable to come away with a run with the bases loaded in the first, but that set the stage for what would come later in the game.
Oklahoma scored nine runs in the second and third innings with home runs from Tiare Jennings and Kinzie Hansen and a two-run triple from Rylie Boone.
Jordy Bahl allowed two base runners in 3 2/3 innings pitched, and Alex Storako, Kierston Deal and Nicole May combined to finish the job.
It was domination from start to finish, highlighting Oklahoma’s pitching depth and their ability to score runs in a hurry. It was a performance that has typified Sooners softball during its dominant three-year run. With the win, Oklahoma moved one win from the Women’s College World Series finals.
It was Jordy Bahl’s 20th win of the season. Jennings’ home run put her at 17 on the year, tied with Alyssa Brito for the team lead. Hansen’s home run gave her 13 in 2023.
Social media was loving Oklahoma’s 50th straight win that pushed them to 58-1 on the season. Here’s a look at some of the best social media reactions to Oklahoma’s incredible 9-0 win over Tennessee.
A trip to the WCWS semifinals is on the line with two winners brackets games on Saturday.
The Women’s College World Series has been spectacular thus far. There have been big offensive performances and clutch pitching. There have been four shutouts and three games where a team scored eight or more runs.
Two teams were eliminated in Friday’s action in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma State rebounded from their 8-0 loss to Florida State in the Women’s College World Series opener with an 8-0 win over Utah to advance. Stanford, which suffered a 2-0 loss to Oklahoma on Thursday, came back and beat Alabama 2-0 on Friday to stay alive.
No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Tennessee – 2 pm CT on ABC.
No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 7 Washington – 7 pm CT on ABC.
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