It’s time! Oklahoma made a historic run through the Big 12 Conference in 2018. They have the NFCA Freshman of the Year and a nation’s best three First-Team All-Americans. They’ve compiled a 55-3 record and are perfect in the postseason, including shutout wins in four of their five NCAA Tournament games. The only thing left for them to do is win the national championship…again.
The first team to get a crack at the back-to-back defending national champs will be the Washington Huskies. The Sooners and U-Dub are set for a 1:30 first pitch (ESPN) with the winner facing the Oregon/Arizona State winner.
Washington (49-8) breezed through Boise State, Texas, and Minnesota in their regional, and then took out Alabama in two games at the Super Regional.
From The Circle
Oklahoma caught Arkansas off guard when they threw Paige Lowary in the opener of the Super Regional. The result was a 7-2 Sooners victory and a frustrated Razorbacks team that hadn’t even faced OU’s ace yet.
Lowary is sporting a 0.98 ERA on the year and has a 10-1 record, with 7 saves, in 39 game appearances. Her start against Arkansas was only her fifth of the season but, two of them have come in the post season.
It’s a complete game 1 hit shutout for Paige Lowary! @OU_Softball moves on to the regional final! #NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/Oyv1qqP4BZ
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 19, 2018
Parker was named as an All-American, for the fourth time in her career, on Wednesday. The senior hurler has been the face of the team since her arrival and has been the catalysts for Oklahoma’s back-to-back national championships.
With a 0.86 ERA on the year, Parker has built a 29-2 record, in 32 starts, and has struck out 188 batters.
The Huskies have the duo of Gabbie Plain and Taran Alvelo in the pitcher’s circle. Plain built a 20-4 record on the year with a 1.06 ERA. She made 23 starts on the season and struck out 172 batters.
9️⃣ innings, 9️⃣ strikeouts for @UWSoftball freshman Gabbie Plain. #NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/xCSdCQUSwb
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 26, 2018
Alvelo has the higher strikeout rate of the two Washington pitchers. She’s fanned 229 batters on the year, while earning a 22-4 record, and has an ERA of 1.12.
From The Plate
Oklahoma’s team batting average is .328, with the Sooners having five of their nine batters hitting over .300 on the year. Jocelyn Alo is blistering opposing pitchers with her .415 batting average. She’s cranked 28 home runs during her freshman campaign while only striking out 18 times.
Jocelyn Alo just doing Jocelyn Alo things! It's a 3-0 ballgame in Norman! #NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/F6TXLWS8v9
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 25, 2018
As impressive as Alo’s batting average has been, Sydney Romero is right there with her at .414 on the season. Second only to Alo’s 70, Romero has 61 RBI on the season.
Shay Knighten (.365), Nicole Pendley (.327) and Nicole Mendes (.314), join Alo and Romero with batting averages over .300.
Washington can also put the ball in play at a high rate. The Huskies have a team batting average of .316 and feature seven players hitting .300 or better. Sis Bates is batting .398 and has knocked in 35 RBI on the year.
Super Regional bound!
Julia DePonte put @UWSoftball ahead and the Huskies roll past Minnesota.#BackThePac pic.twitter.com/Ty3AYXNicw
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 21, 2018
Julia DePonte leads Washington with 14 home runs and is batting .327. Washington’s RBI leader is Kirstyn Thomas. She’s batting .346 on the year and has knocked in 55 runs from the clean-up spot.
Game Notes
The all-time series between Oklahoma and Washington is knotted up 12-12. The Huskies are 10-9 in neutral site games. The last time the two teams met was in the 2017 Women’s College World Series, with OU coming away with a 3-1 victory.