OU, OSU Advance to Softball Super Regionals

The No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners and No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowgirls are one step away from the Women’s College World Series after running undefeated through Regionals this past weekend.

Both teams will now host Super Regionals in Norman and Stillwater this weekend and try to punch their tickets to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma was matched up with Texas A&M, Wichita State and Morgan State in the Normal Regional. On Saturday, May 22, the Sooners were pushed by Wichita State and trailed 2-1 through four innings.

The Sooners put up six runs in the bottom of the fifth, though, behind doubles from Tiare Jennings and Jocelyn Alo and a three-run homer by Lynnsie Elam. The Shockers pulled within two after a three-run sixth inning but couldn’t finish the comeback and fell to OU, 7-5.

That was Oklahoma’s only challenge of the weekend. On Friday, the Sooners dismantled Morgan State in a runrule 19-0 final. In a Sunday rematch with the Shockers, Oklahoma put up 24 runs and beat Wichita State 24 -7.

Oklahoma scored 50 total runs in the three-game weekend and allowed just 12.

Up in Stillwater, the Cowgirls’ total offense wasn’t quite as prolific, but its defense allowed even fewer runs. The Cowgirls blanked Campbell 10-0 on Friday night before rolling over Mississippi State on Saturday and Sunday by 9-3 and 10-2 scores.

Carrie Eberle picked up wins for OSU in both the Mississippi State contests, tossing 12 total innings with 11 strikeouts and 12 hits allowed between them.

The Cowgirls now move on to face the Texas Longhorns in the Super Regionals, the 12th overall seed in the NCAA’s tournament bracket. The Stillwater Super Regional will begin on Friday, May 28, at 4 p.m.

Saturday’s game will be at 3 p.m. and Sunday’s, if necessary, will start at 5 p.m. The winner of the best-two-out-of-three Super Regional will advance to the Women’s College World Series.

Oklahoma State played Texas three times in the regular season and once in the Big 12 Tournament; it swept the Longhorns in those games.

Oklahoma’s Super Regional opponent will be the Washington Huskies. Washington’s overall record is 45-12 this season, including 18-5 in Pac-12 Conference play. It was seeded No. 16 overall in the NCAA bracket, and just won the Seattle Regional against Michigan, Portland State and Seattle University.

The Norman Super Regional begins Friday at 2 p.m. and its second game will be Saturday at the same time.

All games will be broad cast on the ABC/ESPN family of networks.

The Women’s College World Series begins June 3 in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma is hunting for its fifth softball national championship, while Oklahoma State is aiming for its second consecutive WCWS appearance.