2022 NCAA Softball Super Regionals Preview

The NCAA Softball Tournament field has narrowed to the final 16 teams that will compete in the super regional round this week with a trip to the 2022 Women’s College World Series on the line.
The regional round featured everything possible, from extra innings to several weather delays to shocking upsets that saw five national seeds eliminated from the field. Arizona, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Stanford and Texas all shocked the softball world by going on the road and taking down the host team to move on to the next round.
Below, we preview the eight super regional matchups coming up this week.
*All games are listed in Eastern time
Norman Super Regional: (1) Oklahoma v. (16) Central Florida
Oklahoma: Won Norman Regional (14-0 Prairie View A&M, 3-2 Texas A&M, 20-0 Texas A&M)
Central Florida: Won Orlando Regional (6-0 Villanova, 3-2 Michigan, 9-4 Michigan)
Oklahoma Impact Players: Jocelyn Alo, Grace Lyons, Tiare Jennings
Central Florida Impact Players: Jada Cody, Gianna Mancha, Shannon Doherty
Biggest Question: Can the Knights’ pitching and defense slow down the potent Oklahoma offense?
Schedule:
Friday, May 27 4:30 PM ESPN2
Saturday, May 28 2:00 PM ESPN
Sunday, May 29 TBD (if necessary)
Tempe Super Regional: (8) Arizona State v. (9) Northwestern
Arizona State: Won Tempe Regional (5-2 Cal State Fullerton, 11-8 San Diego State, 8-4 San Diego State)
Northwestern: Won Evanston Regional (9-2 Oakland, 17-3 McNeese, 10-2 McNeese)
Arizona State Impact Players: Cydney Sanders, Yannira Acuna, Mac Morgan
Northwestern Impact Players: Danielle Williams, Rachel Lewis, Jordyn Rudd
Biggest Question: Can Danielle Williams keep the Arizona State bats in the yard?
Schedule:
Friday, May 27 8:00 PM ESPNU
Saturday, May 28 11:00 PM ESPN2
Sunday, May 29 TBD (if necessary)
Los Angeles Super Regional: (5) UCLA v. (12) Duke
UCLA: Won Los Angeles Regional (12-1 Grand Canyon, 7-1 Loyola Marymount, 9-1 Ole Miss)
Duke: Won Durham Regional (4-0 UMBC, 5-0 Liberty, 3-5 Georgia, 13-5 Georgia)
UCLA Impact Players: Briana Perez, Megan Faraimo, Delanie Wisz
Duke Impact Players: Kristina Foreman, Jameson Kavel, Peyton St. George
Biggest Question: Can Duke’s dangerous offense power past a dominant UCLA pitching staff?
Schedule:
Friday, May 27 11:00 PM ESPN2
Saturday, May 28 8:30 PM ESPN2
Sunday, May 29 TBD (if necessary)
Fayetteville Super Regional: (4) Arkansas v. Texas
Arkansas: Won Fayetteville Regional (11-0 Princeton, 6-2 Oregon, 9-3 Oregon)
Texas: Won Seattle Regional (6-0 Weber State, 8-2 Washington, 1-2 Washington, 3-2 Washington)
Arkansas Impact Players: Chenise Delce, Danielle Gibson, Linnie Malkin
Texas Impact Players: Hailey Dolcini, Mary Iakopo, Janae Jefferson
Biggest Question: Will the Texas defense stay steady against a hot Arkansas offense trying to make more history?
Schedule:
Thursday, May 26 7:00 PM ESPN2
Friday, May 27 4:00 PM ESPN
Saturday, May 28 TBD (if necessary)
Blacksburg Super Regional: (3) Virginia Tech v. (14) Florida
Virginia Tech: Won Blacksburg Regional (4-0 St. Francis, 4-5 Kentucky, 5-4 Miami, 9-2 Kentucky, 5-4 Kentucky)
Florida: Won Gainesville Regional (10-1 Canisius, 7-1 Georgia Tech, 11-0 Wisconsin)
Virginia Tech Impact Players: Keely Rochard, Emma Lemley, Meredith Slaw
Florida Impact Players: Hannah Adams, Skylar Wallace, Kendra Falby
Biggest Question: Can the Virginia Tech defense stay on point against a speedy Florida team?
Schedule:
Friday, May 27 2:00 PM ESPN2
Saturday, May 28 12:00 PM ESPN
Sunday, May 29 TBD (if necessary)
Palo Alto Super Regional: Stanford v. Oregon State
Stanford: Won Tuscaloosa Regional (3-1 Murray State, 6-0 Alabama, 0-4 Alabama, 6-0 Alabama)
Oregon State: Won Knoxville Regional (4-3 Ohio State, 0-3 Tennessee, 5-1 Ohio State, 8-3 Tennessee, 3-1 Tennessee)
Stanford Impact Players: Alana Vawter, Taylor Gindlesperger, Sydnee Huff
Oregon State Impact Players: Mariah Mazon, Frankie Hammoude, Sarah Haendiges
Biggest Question: Can Sarah Haendiges and Mariah Mazon outduel Alana Vawter?
Schedule:
Friday, May 27 10:30 PM ESPNU
Saturday, May 28 6:00 PM ESPNU
Sunday, May 29 TBD (if necessary)
Stillwater Super Regional: (7) Oklahoma State v. (10) Clemson
Oklahoma State: Won Stillwater Regional (12-0 Fordham, 7-4 Nebraska, 2-0 North Texas)
Clemson: Won Clemson Regional (9-0 UNC Wilmington, 1-0 Auburn, 8-0 Louisiana)
Oklahoma State Impact Players: Kelly Maxwell, Miranda Elish, Sydney Pennington
Clemson Impact Players: Valerie Cagle, McKenzie Clark, Alia Logoleo
Biggest Question: Can the Oklahoma State offense get by Clemson’s tough pitching?
Schedule:
Thursday, May 26 9:30 PM ESPN2
Friday, May 27 6:00 PM ESPN2
Saturday, May 28 TBD (if necessary)
Starkville Super Regional: Mississippi State v. Arizona
Mississippi State: Won Tallahassee Regional (0-4 South Florida, 6-3 Howard, 6-0 South Florida, 5-0 Florida State, 4-3 Florida State)
Arizona: Won Columbia Regional (8-3 Illinois, 2-0 Missouri, 1-0 Missouri)
Mississippi State Impact Players: Mia Davidson, Annie Willis, Chloe Malau’ulu
Arizona Impact Players: Hanah Bowen, Allie Skaggs, Sharlize Palacios
Biggest Question: Which team is going to outslug the other?
Schedule:
Friday, May 27 12:00 PM ESPNU
Saturday, May 28 4:00 PM ESPNU
Sunday, May 29 TBD (if necessary)