Simply eight groups stay within the NCAA Softball Event because the Best Present on Dust strikes to the ultimate stage in Oklahoma Metropolis with the Ladies’s Faculty World Sequence.
Oklahoma remains to be in place to increase its streak of nationwide championships to 5 straight, whereas different previous champions like UCLA and Florida are right here too. Texas Tech and Ole Miss are in Oklahoma Metropolis for the primary time ever, they usually’re joined by a well-rounded Oregon group, a hot-hitting Texas squad, and a gaggle of Tennessee Woman Vols powered by the hardest-throwing pitcher within the sport. 5 of the groups listed below are from the almighty SEC.
The double-elimination stage of the World Sequence begins on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET when the Longhorns face the Gators.
Right here’s who we predict has one of the best possibilities of profitable all of it:
8. Ole Miss
Within the World Sequence for the primary time ever, the Rebels superior by pulling off a highway Tremendous Regional upset over Arkansas and Nationwide Participant of the 12 months Bri Ellis. The Rebels have three gamers within the lineup with double-digit residence runs this season, and two pitchers within the bullpen with greater than 100 strikeouts on the season. Beating Arkansas was sufficient to show that Ole Miss belongs right here, however a protracted keep in Oklahoma Metropolis can be gorgeous.
7. Florida
The Gators have confirmed that they’ll beat the opposite groups on this subject. They’ve crushed Oklahoma twice, Texas as soon as and Ole Miss twice. Florida’s highway right here was somewhat straightforward although, as they run-ruled in all three regional wins, after which outscored Georgia 12-5 in three Tremendous Regional video games. With 22 homers on the 12 months, Taylor Shumaker is the bat to observe within the lineup, whereas Kendra Falby has 90 hits and 36 stolen bases this season. Keagan Rothrock is one of the best arm within the bullpen, with a 16-6 report and 101 strikeouts.
6. Oregon
Beneficiaries of No. 1 total seed Texas Tech being upset through the first weekend of the event, the Sixteenth-seeded Geese received to host a Tremendous Regional in opposition to Liberty, the place they received in two video games to seem within the World Sequence for the primary time since 2018. Oregon flexed its well-rounded muscle groups in a sweep of Liberty, profitable the primary recreation 3-2 in extras after which a 13-1 blowout in Sport Two. The Geese are fourth nationally in batting common (.350) and eighth in ERA (2.40). Sisters Kai and Kedre Luschar lead the group in hits with 82 and 80, respectively, whereas Rylee McCoy has 19 homers on the 12 months. Pitcher Lyndsey Grein is second nationally in wins with a 29-2 report and eleventh in strikeouts per seven innings with 9.1.
5. Texas
Top-of-the-line offensive groups remaining within the subject, the Longhorns rank second nationally in batting common (.359), tenth in slugging proportion (.591), tenth in residence runs (85), and first in complete hits with 588. Probably the most feared bat within the Texas lineup is that of Reese Atwood, who has 21 residence runs, 85 RBI, 40 walks and an OPS of 1.416 on the season. Three different gamers within the Texas lineup have batting averages north of .400 on the 12 months, together with Ashton Maloney who has 89 hits, and Kayden Henry who has 30 stolen bases.
4. Texas Tech
The Purple Raiders are within the Ladies’s Faculty World Sequence for the primary time ever. Texas Tech is powered by the greatest pitcher in faculty softball this season in NiJaree Canady, who leads the nation in ERA with a exceptional mark of 0.89. Canady can also be first in hits allowed per seven innings (3.65), eighth in strikeouts per seven innings (9.5), and first in victories with a 30-5 report. Canady additionally has 11 residence runs this season and is one in all 5 gamers within the Texas Tech lineup with an OPS over .900.
3. UCLA
Within the Ladies’s Faculty World Sequence for the 18th time this century, UCLA used some “Bruin Magic” final weekend to win a highway Tremendous Regional at South Carolina. Together with Oregon, UCLA is one in all two groups in Oklahoma Metropolis that ranks within the prime 10 nationally in each batting common and ERA. The versatile Bruins have three gamers of their batting order — Jordan Woolery, Megan Grant and Savannah Pola — who sport OPS marks north of 1.190. From the circle, Taylor Tinsley, Addisen Fisher and Kaitlyn Terry all have ERAs decrease than 2.65 and every have north of 100 strikeouts on the season.
2. Tennessee
If there’s a group that may beat Oklahoma, it’s most likely Tennessee. The Woman Vols have already achieved that this season in SEC play, taking two of a three-game collection in Norman in late March. Tennessee enters the World Sequence with one of many hottest pitchers in softball in Karlyn Pickens, who ranks within the prime 10 nationally in ERA (1.00), strikeouts (280), shutouts (7), hits allowed per seven innings (4.22), and strikeouts per seven innings (9.6). Within the batting order, Taylor Pannell, Sophia Nugent and McKenna Gibson have mixed for 43 homers this 12 months. That is the ninth World Sequence look for the Woman Vols, who’re nonetheless trying to find their first nationwide title within the sport.
1. Oklahoma
Patty Gasso’s Sooners have received this factor eight instances for the reason that flip of the century, together with every of the final 4. Sure, you learn that proper — the Sooners are eyeing their fifth consecutive nationwide title in softball, which might solely additional cement this run as probably the greatest dynasties ever in faculty sports activities. This Oklahoma group is youthful than a few of Gasso’s earlier groups, however they’ve received 50 video games this season, rank second nationally in residence runs and ninth in fielding proportion. Situated simply 19 miles from Norman, the World Sequence in Oklahoma Metropolis is mainly a collection of residence video games for the Sooners too. Kasidi Pickering has an OPS of 1.422 whereas Sam Landry is 23-4 on the season with a 1.92 ERA.
