The Final Four of the 2022 Women’s College World Series is set and it’s littered with teams from the Big 12. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas have all advanced to Monday’s semifinal round, leaving no doubt that the Big 12 was the best softball conference in the nation this year. The UCLA Bruins are the lone non-Big 12 team remaining in Oklahoma City and they earned the right to take a shot at the defending national champions on Monday.
UCLA 8 – Florida 0
The Bruins bounced Florida by a final of 8-0 in a game that only lasted six innings due to the mercy rule. Holly Azevedo pitched a shutout of the Gators, allowing just two hits in her six innings of work. A trio of Bruin batters recorded two RBI each with Briana Perez, Maya Brady, and Savanna Pola going a combined 5-for-8 from the plate.
Texas 5 – Arizona 2
Texas kept it a mostly Big 12 affair in OKC by sending Arizona home in a game that was a lot more entertaining than the UCLA/Florida matchup. The Longhorns used a 3-run rally in the bottom of the fourth, and then added an insurance run in the fifth, to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 victory. JJ Smith was responsible for all three of the Longhorn runs in the fourth. She launched an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right center field for a 3-run blast that broke the will of the Wildcats.
Monday Schedule
There’s the potential to see four games on Monday as UCLA and Texas must each win twice in order to advance to the championship series. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State need only to win once in order to advance.
The Sooners and Bruins will get the day started at 11:00 AM (CT) in a game that will be televised on ESPN. Should they need to play a second game it would start at 1:30.
Oklahoma State and Texas have the nightcap. They are scheduled to play at 6:00 PM and will also have their game televised by ESPN. Should the Cowgirls and Longhorns need to play a second game, it would be set for an 8:30 start time.
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