The first full day of super regionals did not disappoint.
No. 2 Tennessee and No. 3 Georgia kicked things off yesterday, as the sole Thursday game after the No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State matchup got delayed due to weather. But Friday was the first day where all 16 teams faced off.
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Now, it's important to note that the first day of games are just as important as the rubber matches. Not only do teams earn momentum, but according to ESPN, 79% of Game 1 winners advance to the WCWS.
We saw that today as the Vols clinched the first spot in OKC with a 2-1 victory over Georgia behind a Sage Mardjetko nine-strikeout performance after earning a 3-1 Game 1 win yesterday.
The other 14 teams fought for those first wins today.
Bright and early, No. 3 Texas Tech stormed into Gainesville and made a statement with a 10-8 win over No. 2 Florida as former Gator, Mia Williams, returned to the Swamp for the first time since transferring to the Red Raiders following last season.
The game was tied 8-8 entering the top of the seventh after a back-and-forth battle in the first six frames where the two teams shared six home runs.
Enter Williams.
In poetic fashion, the Windemere, Fla. native launched the game-winning two-run knock before the Red Raider defense shutdown Florida in the bottom of the inning.
OH MY MIA WILLIAMS 😱 x 🎥 ESPN2 /
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)
The drama continued in the No. 1 Oklahoma-No. 5 Mississippi State game as the Bulldogs took the 11-9 opening game stunner.
The Sooners held a 7-2 advantage entering the sixth and according to ESPN, teams trailing by four or more runs are 9-205 in super regionals since 2005 — more specifically, Oklahoma was 77-0 when leading by at least four in a regional and super regional since 2000. But a four-run outing in the top of the frame put Mississippi State within striking distance.
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OU answered with another two insurance runs to put the score at 9-6 heading into the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough. The Bulldogs cashed in five runs off five hits to hold a two-run edge before Delainey Everett shutdown the Sooners, securing their first super regional win in program history while handing Oklahoma its first super regional loss since 2015.
Another high-scoring contest came in No. 2 Arkansas's 14-5 rout over No. 3 Duke where Dakota Kennedy went 3-for-4 with four RBIs from two singles and a home run. Tianna Bell hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second in her 18th four-bagger of the year.
No. 1 Alabama displayed its dominance later in the day, as SEC Pitcher of the Year Jocelyn Briski recorded 11 strikeouts in the one-hitter against No. 4 LSU for a 7-0 victory.
Jordy Frahm had an impressive outing herself in No. 1 Nebraska's 8-1 triumph over No. 4 Oklahoma State, hurling seven strikeouts while going 2-for-4 at the plate.
The chaos continued in the final two games of the night. No. 2 UCLA run-ruled No. 6 UCF 9-1 behind a massive six-spot fifth inning where a Rylee Slimp walk-off homer gave the Bruins its 196th home run of the year.
RYLEE SLIMP 3-RUN WALK-OFF HOMER!!! |
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball)
Then, No. 5 Arizona State grabbed a 4-1 win over No. 1 Texas to cap the day as Kenzie Brown tossed 10 strikeouts to hand the Longhorns the loss. Brown recorded her 12th double-digit strikeout game of the year after tallying five-consecutive K's to end the game on the way to the Sun Devils' tenth-straight win.
Don't go anywhere, the fun continues tomorrow.
