2023 NCAA Softball Super Regionals Preview

By Jenna Becerra
on May 22, 2023

The 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament is down to its final 16 teams. This week, they’ll battle it out at Super Regionals to punch their tickets to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

The Regional round was a wild one that went down to the final pitch in many instances, featuring a plethora of upsets, comebacks and history-making moments. Three national seeds were eliminated, including No. 2 overall seed UCLA, allowing San Diego State to advance to Super Regionals for the first time in program history. Oregon also shook things up in Fayetteville, leading to both the Ducks and the Aztecs going undefeated while unseeded in Regional play. Meanwhile, the battle in the Bayou went the Ragin Cajuns’ way in the “if necessary” game against LSU.

We preview this week’s eight Super Regional matchups below.

*All games are listed in Eastern time

Norman Super Regional: (1) Oklahoma vs. (16) Clemson

Oklahoma: Won Norman Regional (11-0 Hofstra, 11-0 Missouri, 16-3 California)

Clemson: Won Clemson Regional (17-2 UNC Greensboro, 7-0 Auburn, 2-5 Auburn, 5-1 Auburn)

Oklahoma Impact Players: Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Jordy Bahl, Kinzie Hansen, Alex Storako, Nicole May

Clemson Impact Players: Valerie Cagle, McKenzie Clark, Caroline Jacobsen

Biggest Question: Can Valerie Cagle and the Tigers tame the explosive Sooner bats…twice?

Schedule:

Friday, May 26, TBD

Saturday, May 27, TBD

Sunday, May 28, TBD (if necessary)

Durham Super Regional: (8) Duke vs. (9) Stanford

Duke: Won Durham Regional (2-1 George Mason, 5-0 Charlotte, 4-2 Charlotte)

Stanford: Won Stanford Regional (1-0 Long Beach State, 8-0 Florida, 11-2 Florida)

Duke Impact Players: D’Auna Jennings, Cassidy Curd, Deja Davis, Aminah Vega, Ana Gold

Stanford Impact Players: Nijaree Canady, Alana Vawter, Taylor Gindlesperger, River Mahler

Biggest Question: Can Cassidy Curd and Jala Wright outduel Nijaree Canady and Alana Vawter in the circle?

Schedule:

Friday, May 26, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, May 27, 3 p.m., TBD

Sunday, May 28, TBD (if necessary)

Tuscaloosa Super Regional: (5) Alabama vs. (12) Northwestern

Alabama: Won Tuscaloosa Regional (5-0 LIU, 12-5 Middle Tennessee, 1-4 Middle Tennessee, 1-0 Middle Tennessee)

Northwestern: Won Evanston Regional (2-0 Eastern Illinois, 10-8 Kentucky, 5-4 Miami OH)

Alabama Impact Players: Ally Shipman, Ashley Prange

Northwestern Impact Players: Danielle Williams, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer, Nikki Cuchran

Biggest Question: Can Alabama’s pitching withstand the hot Big Ten champs without Montana Fouts?

Schedule:

Friday, May 26, 8 p.m., ESPNU

Saturday, May 27, 9 p.m., TBD

Sunday, May 28, TBD (if necessary)

Knoxville Super Regional: (4) Tennessee vs. (13) Texas

Tennessee: Won Knoxville Regional (12-0 Northern Kentucky, 9-1 Indiana, 7-3 Indiana)

Texas: Won Austin Regional (8-0 Seton Hall, 2-1 Texas A&M, 11-5 Texas A&M)

Tennessee Impact Players: Kiki Milloy, Ashley Rogers, McKenna Gibson, Zaida Puni

Texas Impact Players: Mac Morgan, Mia Scott, Leighann Goode

Biggest Question: On both sides of the ball, can the Longhorns go toe-to-toe with the Vols fresh off their SEC championship?

Schedule:

Friday, May 26, TBD

Saturday, May 27, TBD

Sunday, May 28, TBD (if necessary)

Tallahassee Super Regional: (3) Florida State vs. (14) Georgia

Florida State: Won Tallahassee Regional (9-0 Marist, 5-1 UCF, 0-4 South Carolina, 1-0 South Carolina)

Georgia: Won Athens Regional (12-0 NC Central, 8-3 Virginia Tech, 12-3 Virginia Tech)

Florida State Impact Players: Kathryn Sandercock, Makenna Reid, Devyn Flaherty, Kaley Mudge, Jahni Kerr

Georgia Impact Players: Jayda Kearney, Sydney Kuma, Sara Mosley, Shelby Walters

Biggest Question: After Kathryn Sandercock's perfect game in the Regional final, can the Georgia bats power through against Florida State's ace?

Schedule:

Thursday, May 25, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Friday, May 26, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, May 27, TBD (if necessary)

Stillwater Super Regional: (6) Oklahoma State vs. Oregon

Oklahoma State: Won Stillwater Regional (9-0 UMBC, 6-0 Wichita State, 5-2 Nebraska)

Oregon: Won Fayetteville Regional (5-4 Notre Dame, 10-4 Arkansas, 14-4 Arkansas)

Oklahoma State Impact Players: Rachel Becker, Kiley Naomi, Kelly Maxwell, Lexi Kilfoyl, Chyenne Factor

Oregon Impact Players: Allee Bunker, Terra McGowan, Hanna Delgado, Morgan Scott, Stevie Hansen

Biggest Question: Will the Ducks keep their offense rolling against the Cowgirls’ pitching staff?

Schedule:

Thursday, May 25, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Friday, May 26, 6 p.m., TBD

Saturday, May 27, TBD (if necessary)

Seattle Super Regional: (7) Washington vs. Louisiana

Washington: Won Seattle Regional (10-2 Northern Colorado, 3-1 McNeese, 0-1 McNeese, 7-6 McNeese)

Louisiana: Won Baton Rouge Regional (5-0 Omaha, 0-4 LSU, 7-4 LSU, 9-8 LSU)

Washington Impact Players: Baylee Klingler, Sami Reynolds, Ruby Meylan, Madison Huskey

Louisiana Impact Players: Karly Heath, Mihyia Davis, Lauren Allred, Meghan Schorman, Sam Landry

Biggest Question: After two Regionals that went down to the wire, who will get the timely hits in this Super Regional?

Schedule:

Friday, May 26, 10 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, May 27, 7 p.m., TBD

Sunday, May 28, TBD (if necessary)

Salt Lake City Super Regional: (15) Utah vs. San Diego State

Utah: Won Salt Lake City Regional (11-9 Southern Illinois, 7-1 Ole Miss, 4-1 Ole Miss)

San Diego State: Won Los Angeles Regional (7-0 Liberty, 6-0 Grand Canyon, 6-3 Liberty)

Utah Impact Players: Mariah Lopez, Ellessa Bonstrom, Haley Denning, Aliya Belarde, Julia Jimenez

San Diego State Impact Players: Allie Light, Mac Barbara, Cali Decker, Bella Espinoza, Jillian Celis

Biggest Question: In a matchup of firsts—Utah’s first time hosting a Super Regional and San Diego State’s first time playing in one—which conference champion is ready to make more history?

Schedule:

Friday, May 26, 10 p.m., ESPNU

Saturday, May 27, 5 p.m., TBD

Sunday, May 28, TBD (if necessary)