Top-ranked Oklahoma routed California 16-3 on Sunday to advance to the Super Regionals. The Sooners went undefeated in the Norman Regional, winning their three games by a combined score of 38-3. Oklahoma will host No. 16 Clemson. Here’s what you need to know:
- Oklahoma is chasing its third straight national title.
- Thirteen of the 16 seeded teams/hosts advanced to the Super Regionals.
- The three seeded teams that failed to advance were No. 2 UCLA, which lost in two games in the Los Angeles Regional; No. 10 LSU, which lost two games to Louisiana on Sunday; and No. 11 Arkansas, which was eliminated by Oregon on Sunday.
𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 💥#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/n77zNn4UnY
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) May 21, 2023
What are the Super Regional matchups?
- No. 16 Clemson at No. 1 Oklahoma
- No. 14 Georgia at No. 3 Florida State
- No. 13 Texas at No. 4 Tennessee
- No. 12 Northwestern at No. 5 Alabama
- Oregon at No. 6 Oklahoma State
- No. 9 Stanford at No. 8 Duke
- San Diego State at No. 15 Utah
- Louisiana at No. 7 Washington
What are the Super Regional schedules?
Tallahassee Super Regional: No. 14 Georgia at No. 3 Florida State
Game 1: 7 p.m., Thursday (ESPN2)
Game 2: 8 p.m., Friday (TBA)
Game 3: Saturday (if necessary)
Stillwater Super Regional: Oregon at No. 6 Oklahoma State
Game 1: 9 p.m., Thursday (ESPN2)
Game 2: 6 p.m., Friday (TBD)
Game 3: Saturday (if necessary)
Norman Super Regional: No. 16 Clemson at No. 1 Oklahoma
Game 1: 2 p.m., Friday (ESPN2)
Game 2: 1 p.m., Saturday (TBD)
Game 3: Sunday (if necessary)
Durham Super Regional: No. 9 Stanford at No. 8 Duke
Game 1: Noon, Friday (ESPN2)
Game 2: 3 p.m., Saturday (TBD)
Game 3: Sunday (if necessary)
Tuscaloosa Super Regional: No. 12 Northwestern at No. 5 Alabama
Game 1: 8 p.m., Friday (ESPNU)
Game 2: 9 p.m., Saturday (TBD)
Game 3: Sunday (if necessary)
Knoxville Super Regional: No. 13 Texas at No. 4 Tennessee
Game 1: 4 p.m., Friday (ESPN2)
Game 2: 3 p.m., Saturday (TBD)
Game 3: Sunday (if necessary)
Seattle Super Regional: Louisiana at No. Washington
Game 1: 10 p.m., Friday (ESPN2)
Game 2: 7 p.m., Saturday (TBD)
Game 3: Sunday (if necessary)
Salt Lake City Super Regional: San Diego State at No. 15 Utah
Game 1: 10 p.m., Friday (ESPNU)
Game 2: 5 p.m., Saturday (TBD)
Game 3: Sunday (if necessary)
Which is the biggest surprise team so far?
Well, you have to start with San Diego State. We all expected UCLA to come out of the Los Angeles Regional; the Bruins have been part of every Women’s College World Series since 2015. This is the first-ever trip to the Super-Regional round for the Aztecs, who beat Liberty on Sunday to get to this stage. It has been a remarkable spring for San Diego State’s athletic department, now with this on top of the men’s basketball run to the title game. March Madness, meet May Mayhem.
Honorable mention: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, who beat LSU twice Sunday to earn a spot in the Super-Regional round. — Auerbach
Who’s on upset alert?
I’ll take two programs I also had on upset alert in the regional round (which then took care of business, making the upset alert unnecessary): Alabama and Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls righted their ship after losing 11 of their final 13 games entering the NCAA Tournament, but I still have questions about their inconsistency. With Alabama, the question is more obvious: Can Montana Fouts play? Will she? The Tide didn’t need her this past weekend, although she did warm up ahead of Sunday’s game against Middle Tennessee. Coach Patrick Murphy said afterward that he agonized about the decision not to start her and that she looked outstanding in the morning’s bullpen session. Until she actually plays and we see how close to 100 percent she is, it’s just hard to be certain. — Auerbach
Most anticipated matchups in the Supers
I’m really looking forward to seeing two red-hot teams play in a location we didn’t think they’d be playing these games — San Diego State versus Utah. Stanford-Duke also intrigues me because the Blue Devils nabbed that No. 8 national seed ahead of the Cardinal, who surely are not pleased they missed out on an opportunity to host a Super Regional. It’s always great when two teams can decide something like that on the field. I’ll also note Texas versus Tennessee as the series that could give us the closest games throughout. — Auerbach
Required reading
(Photo of Tiare Jennings: Garett Fisbeck / AP Photo)