The Oklahoma Sooners cannot do it once more, can they? Coach Patty Gasso’s program has received the previous 4 NCAA softball titles, and after the Sooners survived their first journey by a rugged SEC schedule, they start their quest for a fifth straight ring because the NCAA regionals start on Friday.
Do not let the Sooners’ title dominance distract you from simply how deep faculty softball has turn into. This match boasts excellent groups from the SEC, in fact — eight of the general high 10 seeds are from the convention, and No. 5 Florida State and No. 11 Clemson symbolize the ACC.
West Coast Large Ten groups like No. 9 UCLA and No. 16 Oregon can smash the softball, as can different groups within the convention like Ohio State and Indiana. In the meantime, a few of the finest pitchers are enjoying for groups like Texas Tech (NiJaree Canady), Arizona State (Kenzie Brown) and even Belmont (Maya Johnson).
Earlier than we discover out if somebody can take down softball’s crimson-and-cream ultimate boss in Oklahoma Metropolis in a few weeks, let’s begin with regionals, which is able to air on the ESPN household of networks. Here is every little thing you want to comply with because the postseason will get underway.
Leap to: Title favorites | Hardest regionals
Nice aces | Greatest hitters
Video games to look at
10 title favorites
With 14 of 15 SEC groups reaching the match discipline, the convention guidelines the softball roost. However every of the highest 4 conferences — SEC, ACC, Large Ten, Large 12 — has at the least one crew you possibly can discuss your self into making a run. Let’s take a look at 10 high contenders heading into the match.
Oklahoma
45-7-1 | No. 2 total seed | No. 3 in RPI | No. 1 in Warren Nolan’s ELO rankings* | 22-7-1 vs. RPI high 50
The Sooners needed to accept the No. 2 seed after the SEC match finale towards No. 1 Texas A&M was canceled resulting from climate. However that simply means they get to play with a chip on their collective shoulder, proper? They misplaced midseason collection to each Tennessee and Alabama, however received 9 of their previous 11 SEC video games to snag the No. 1 seed within the convention match. Just like the 2024 crew, this 12 months’s Sooners aren’t fairly as loaded with star expertise as earlier editions. However hey, final 12 months’s crew received the title, too.
(* ELO scores are a mode of energy rating that quantities to a factors alternate: The winner of a given sport takes factors from the loser. You get extra factors when you beat an excellent crew, and also you lose extra when you lose to a lesser crew.)
Texas A&M
45-9-1 | No. 1 seed | No. 1 in RPI | No. 2 in ELO | 27-9-1 vs. RPI high 50
Heading into 2025, it was straightforward to imagine that OU’s Purple River rival, Texas, can be the largest risk to the Sooners’ reign. However since dropping a collection to Florida in early March, Texas A&M is 24-5, and the Aggies snagged the No. 1 total seed with a robust end. Of their previous three video games, they beat Tennessee 13-2, South Carolina 12-4 and Texas 14-2. They enter the NCAA match in “take no prisoners” mode.
Texas
46-10 | No. 6 seed | No. 9 in RPI | No. 5 in ELO | 25-10 vs. RPI high 50
The Longhorns have reached two of the previous three nationwide finals, and with veterans like pitcher Teagan Kavan and catcher Reese Atwood, the general expertise is clear. However the Horns have to rediscover fifth gear: Since mid-April, they’ve gone simply 8-7, dropping a house collection to Tennessee, getting swept by Oklahoma on the highway and getting pummeled by Texas A&M within the SEC match.
Florida
43-14 | No. 3 seed | No. 2 in RPI | No. 10 in ELO | 23-14 vs. RPI high 50
Florida’s pitching is not fairly as dependable because the groups above on this listing, however it will possibly smash the ball. Amongst seeded groups, solely Oklahoma boasts a better crew OPS. The Gators received a late-season collection towards Oklahoma by outsourcing them 20-14 in three video games, they usually have scored at the least 9 runs at the least as soon as in every of their previous six SEC collection.
(* OPS: on-base share plus slugging share, a great way of measuring an offense’s mixed effectivity and explosiveness.)
Florida State
46-9 | No. 5 seed | No. 4 in RPI | No. 6 in ELO | 19-8 vs. RPI high 50
After a bumpy early stretch, FSU has caught fireplace. Of their previous 26 video games towards Energy 4 convention opponents, the Seminoles have misplaced 4 video games by a complete of seven runs and received the opposite 22 by 133 runs. After they get on high of you, issues can get out of hand, as evidenced by scores like 16-3 and 11-3 over Cal, 13-2 over Virginia and 12-4 over Duke. Dropping outfielder Kennedy Harp to a season-ending harm will harm, although.
Arkansas
40-12 | No. 4 seed | No. 5 in RPI | No. 4 in ELO | 18-12 vs. RPI high 50
Like Florida, the Razorbacks additionally do not have the most effective pitching within the match, and their report towards the RPI high 50 is a bit shakier than different high seeds. But additionally like Florida, they’ll hit. In Bri Ellis, they have the most effective hitter within the nation, they usually scored at the least 5 runs in eight of their previous 11 SEC video games.
1:11
Spotlight: Bri Ellis blasts walk-off grand slam as Hogs beat UGA in fashion
Courtney Day’s fifth-inning homer ties it earlier than Ellis’ lengthy ball seals the deal, lifting 5-seed Arkansas to a 5-1 second-round win over the internet hosting 13-seed Bulldogs.
Clemson
44-12 | No. 11 seed | No. 11 in RPI | No. 3 in ELO | 20-11 vs. RPI high 50
Coach John Rittman’s Tigers are peaking on the proper time. They’ve received 22 of 25, together with late-season wins over each South Carolina and Tennessee, and of their journey to the ACC match title, they received each a wild, 10-9 observe meet towards Virginia Tech (they scored eight within the sixth) and a 2-1 pitchers’ duel towards Florida State.
UCLA
49-10 | No. 9 seed | No. 8 in RPI | No. 8 in ELO | 23-7 vs. RPI high 50
The Large Ten won’t be as robust because the SEC total, however coach Kelly Inouye-Perez’s Bruins have performed 30 video games towards the RPI high 50, and amongst match groups, their win share towards these groups is worse than solely Oregon’s. The Bruins are balanced, too: Amongst match groups, they’re seventh in OPS and ninth in OPS allowed.
Tennessee
40-14 | No. 7 seed | No. 7 in RPI | No. 9 in ELO | 16-14 vs. RPI high 50
The Volunteers’ bats can go quiet generally, and their mediocre report towards the highest 50 is a reminder of that. However Karlyn Pickens could be the most effective pitcher within the nation not named NiJaree Canady, and collection wins over each Oklahoma and Texas function reminders that they’ll grind out victories over anybody on this discipline.
Texas Tech
45-12 | No. 12 seed | No. 17 in RPI | No. 7 in ELO | 16-11 vs. RPI high 50
To advance previous the Purple Raiders, you might need to beat NiJaree Canady twice. Oklahoma barely pulled it off when Canady was at Stanford. Tech served discover with an unbelievable Large 12 match run: In three video games, together with battles with match groups Arizona and Arizona State, they received by a mixed 26-0.
5 hardest regionals
Some hosts have a bit extra work to do than others this weekend. Advancing from these 5 regionals may very well be notably tough.
Tuscaloosa. Just one host is not the most effective crew in its area, per Warren Nolan’s ELO energy scores: Alabama, the No. 15 total seed. The Crimson Tide are nineteenth total, behind a Virginia Tech crew that ranks fifteenth and went 13-8 towards the RPI high 50. (Bama went 17-20.) Belmont, with the most effective strikeout pitcher within the nation (Maya Johnson), lurks as nicely. Yikes.
Baton Rouge. Southeastern Louisiana ranks thirty fourth within the ELO rankings, simply forward of Auburn and Arizona State, who every obtained No. 2 seeds. SELA, nonetheless, is the 4-seed in a Baton Rouge regional that additionally options the third-best 2-seed (Nebraska). LSU misplaced 10 of its previous 15 SEC video games and now faces a very tough highway.
Tucson. Arizona is No. 13 total seed, which is apt for a crew that ranks twelfth in RPI and thirteenth in ELO. However the Wildcats might need to get previous each Ole Miss (the sixth-best No. 2 seed, per ELO) and Grand Canyon (by far the most effective No. 3) to advance to their tenth tremendous regional prior to now 11 tournaments.
Knoxville. You want runs, proper? All 4 of the groups on this regional rank among the many high half of match groups in OPS, led by Ohio State (first in OPS). Karlyn Pickens is superior, however Tennessee might need to show it will possibly win a observe meet or two.
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Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens throws quickest pitch in NCAA softball historical past
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens fires a 78.2 mph strike for the fastest-recorded pitch in faculty softball historical past.
Bryan-Faculty Station. Liberty and Marist are two of probably the most intriguing mid-majors within the draw, and it is virtually unfair that they have been pitted towards one another right here. It is also virtually unfair to top-seeded Texas A&M that the Aggies have been handed not solely the fifth-best No. 2 seed (Liberty), per ELO, but additionally one of many nation’s finest pitchers in Marist’s Kiley Myers.
10 nice aces
NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech (25-5, 0.81 ERA). Canady stays the gold customary. She leads the nation in ERA and batting common allowed (.147), and he or she’s second in walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP, 0.69) and third in strikeout price (39.1%). Oh yeah, and he or she’s allowed a complete of 1 earned run in her previous 5 appearances (24.2 innings).
Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee (20-8, 0.92 ERA). She’s the most effective pitcher from softball’s finest convention. Amongst these with at the least 50 innings pitched in SEC play, Pickens ranked first in on-base share allowed (.255), first in slugging share allowed (.239) and first in strikeouts (123).
Kenzie Brown, Arizona State (19-6, 1.29 ERA). Brown strikes out extra gamers than even Canady (41.0%, second nationally), and he or she permits neither hits (sixth in batting common allowed) nor energy (seventh in slugging share allowed).
Maya Johnson, Belmont (23-4, 1.24 ERA). The junior lefty kilos the strike zone: Johnson’s struck out practically half the batters she’s confronted this 12 months (her 49.7% strikeout price simply tops the nation), and he or she walks virtually nobody (her 2.7% stroll price is second). She’s 3-1 towards Energy 4 convention opponents, too.
Sam Landry, Oklahoma (19-4, 2.04 ERA). The bespectacled Louisiana switch is not probably the most dominant ace OU has produced throughout its title run, however she’s battle-tested and powerful. In SEC play, she was first in full video games (12), first in innings pitched (100), second in WHIP (1.03) and second in ERA (2.24).
2:45
Celebrity Sam Landry says Oklahoma’s vibes are excessive
Landry joins Rally Cap to debate how her teammates and coaches have helped her play at an elite stage because the Sooners look to hold their momentum into the NCAA Event.
Emiley Kennedy, Texas A&M (21-4, 2.68 ERA). Like Landry, she’s battle-tested. Kennedy will stroll some batters right here and there, however in SEC play, she nonetheless ranked third in OPS allowed (.647) whereas going 14-2 and pitching 97.0 innings.
Kiley Myers, Marist (21-1, 1.50 ERA). Myers’ kind dipped down the stretch — of the 30 earned runs she’s allowed, 23 got here in her previous 11 video games — however she got here by within the MAAC match. She’s second nationally in shutouts (10) and offers the Purple Foxes an opportunity towards anybody.
Autumn Courtney, FAU (29-3, 1.80 ERA). The Queens College switch ranks third nationally in batting common allowed (.156) and fourth in OPS (.505). Courtney has solely pitched 9.2 innings towards energy convention opponents (UCF and Kansas) however struck out 13 and did not permit a single earned run.
Jordy Bahl, Nebraska (23-6, 1.65 ERA). Here is a enjoyable mixture: The previous OU ace is each tenth in OPS allowed as a pitcher (.521) and eleventh in OPS as a hitter (1.486). She’s given up 15 residence runs, greater than you’d desire, however she’s countered that by hitting 19 of her personal.
Teagan Kavan, Texas (21-4, 2.46 ERA). Like Myers, Kavan misplaced the plot late within the season. She allowed 24 earned runs in her first 24 appearances however has allowed 29 in her previous eight. Her numbers have been nonetheless among the many finest within the SEC, however she’ll have to rediscover her confidence earlier than a possible tremendous regional matchup towards Clemson.
10 nice hitters
Bri Ellis, Arkansas (1.838 OPS, 26 HR, 72 RBI). Ellis is the most effective hitter within the nation by a stable margin. Regardless of enjoying within the SEC, the 5-foot-10 senior led the nation in on-base share (.649) and slugging share (1.189) and was second in residence runs (26) and walks (58).
Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech (1.661 OPS, 30 HR, 63 RBI). She’s the one participant to hit extra residence runs than Ellis (30), and he or she’s second nationally in OPS (1.661) and whole bases (172). She’s stolen at the least 14 bases in three straight seasons, too.
Jasmyn Burns, Ohio State (1.580 OPS, 23 HR, 69 RBI). The Buckeyes in all probability do not have the pitching for a significant run, however they lead the nation in OPS, and Burns leads the crew in the identical class. She’s third in whole bases (156) and tied for fourth in residence runs.
Reese Atwood, Texas (1.383 OPS, 17 HR, 71 RBI). After a star flip in 2024, the junior catcher was one of many SEC’s finest in her first 12 months within the convention, too. In SEC play, Atwood ranked fourth in OPS (1.209), fifth in walks (20) and sixth in RBI (27).
1:07
Spotlight: Reese Atwood makes Texas historical past with game-winning homer
Within the sixth, Atwood is available in clutch with a two-run bomb and turns into the No. 5 Longhorns’ all-time RBI chief with 201 to edge Kentucky, 7-6.
Taylor Minnick, Indiana (1.559 OPS, 16 HR, 63 RBI). The Large Ten can hit! Indiana’s batting lineup does not go as deep as UCLA’s, Oregon’s or Ohio State’s, however Minnick’s a star. She’s second nationally in extra-base hits (42), fourth in slugging (.980) and fifth in batting common (.473).
Haley Ahr, Marist (1.385 OPS, 12 HR, 61 RBI). One other Purple Fox to recollect. Clearly, Marist did not play many high groups, however Ahr ranks first nationally in batting common (.527) and has struck out solely 5 instances all season.
Mya Perez, Texas A&M (1.408 OPS, 14 HR, 68 RBI). Everybody certainly desires to peak heading into the postseason, and like Texas A&M total, Perez has achieved that. In her previous eight video games, she’s 12-for-22 with two residence runs, a double, 11 RBIs and 6 walks.
Megan Grant, UCLA (1.499 OPS, 23 HR, 73 RBI). The lefty pull-hitter has performed All-American caliber ball for years now, and Grant’s seventh nationally with a .957 slugging share. She’ll have to steer out of a little bit of a funk, although: She’s 2-for-14 in Could.
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Oklahoma (1.129 OPS, 14 HR, 45 RBI). OU overwhelms you with depth as a substitute of star energy — no Sooners batter ranks within the nationwide high 30 in OPS. However McEnroe-Marinas got here on robust late, and in SEC play she completed first in extra-base hits (17) and second in each homers (11) and runs (27).
Savannah Kirk, Grand Canyon (1.088 OPS, 0 HR, 31 RBI). We’d like a slap-hitter on this listing, and nobody’s higher at it than Kirk. The 5-foot-4 sophomore is second nationally in batting common (.505) and fourth in stolen bases (47). If (when) she will get on base, she’s going to be in scoring place shortly.
10 finest first-round video games
Friday shall be fairly the softball thrill trip, with all 32 first-round video games scheduled to start out between midday and 10 p.m. ET. Listed below are 10 video games with both main upset potential or easy, excessive mixed high quality.
Auburn vs. USF (midday ET, ESPN). Auburn received into the sector with a robust non-conference efficiency however went simply 6-19 towards the SEC. USF received knocked round by Florida and Texas this 12 months however has received 13 of its previous 15.
Liberty vs. Marist (1 p.m., ESPN+). Kiley Myers faces a Liberty crew with 5 shutout wins in its previous seven video games. It could be disappointing if this one weren’t a dynamite pitchers’ duel.
UCF vs. Michigan (2 p.m., ESPN2). Michigan misplaced seven of eight in late April however shutout Oregon and UCLA to win the Large Ten match. In the meantime, in Isabella Vega, UCF has a participant who practically made the nice aces listing above.
Georgia Tech vs. Florida Atlantic (2 p.m., ESPNU). FAU has Autumn Courtney and a 5-5 report towards the RPI high 50. Georgia Tech is battle-tested … however misplaced most of these battles: The Yellow Jackets are 6-18 towards the highest 50.
Kentucky vs. Northwestern (2 p.m., ESPN+). These groups have mixed for 9 tremendous regional appearances prior to now 10 years, and both might current a tough check in a possible Saturday matchup with Clemson.
Georgia vs. Coastal Carolina (2:30 p.m., ESPN+). Georgia started the season 18-1 however received caught within the SEC undertow and completed 13-19. In the meantime, Coastal solely received eight photographs at RPI top-50 groups however received six of them. The Chanticleers have received 5 in a row after a late-April funk.
1:04
Mic’d Up: Georgia softball’s Dallis Goodnight
Take a pay attention because the Bulldogs put together on the sector for his or her first-round SEC Softball Event matchup vs. Kentucky.
Ohio State vs. North Carolina (4 p.m., ESPNU). Each Ohio State sport is a possible observe meet, and North Carolina is completely happy to attain (and infrequently permit) some runs in its personal proper. This one might gentle up the scoreboard.
LSU vs. Southeastern Louisiana (5:30 p.m., SECN). Whereas SLU went simply 0-4 towards the RPI high 50 this season, that features losses of 3-2 to LSU, 5-4 to Florida State and 3-2 to Texas A&M. The Girl Lions have a trio of harmful pitchers (Macie LaRue, Britney Lewinski and Hallie Burns) and simply sufficient offense to be a scary 4-seed.
Arizona State vs. San Diego State (10 p.m., ESPN2). This could be the most effective matchup of the day. Arizona State has Kenzie Brown, however SDSU ranks greater in each ELO (twenty sixth vs. thirty seventh) and RPI (twenty ninth vs. thirty seventh).
Ole Miss vs. Grand Canyon (10 p.m., ESPNU). ASU-SDSU won’t even be the most effective 10 p.m. matchup. Each Ole Miss and Grand Canyon rank within the ELO high 25. Whereas GCU is not extremely battle-tested this season, it beat UCLA and Virginia Tech in latest NCAA tournaments and scored a pair of shutout wins over Arizona State this 12 months.
