Highway to the 2022 WCWS

Getting into the 2022 NCAA softball regionals, Oklahoma ranks first within the nation in batting common (.367), runs per sport (9.26) and ERA (0.81). At 49-2, the No. 1 seed Sooners appear primed to defend their Ladies’s School World Collection title.

However there are 63 different groups that wish to forestall that from occurring.

There’s second-seeded Florida State, which misplaced to the Sooners in three video games in final 12 months’s WCWS. There’s third-seeded Virginia Tech, which is internet hosting its first NCAA regional in program historical past. There’s seventh-seeded Oklahoma State, which defeated Oklahoma within the Huge 12 championship sport Saturday.

Is there a James Madison on this 12 months’s match area? Do any unseeded groups have what it takes to shock the faculty softball world? Are any seeded groups extra weak than their seeding suggests?

Our analysts break down the NCAA softball match area main into Friday’s regionals, which can air throughout the ESPN household of networks.

Which workforce’s seeding stunned you probably the most?

Amanda Scarborough: One factor that stunned me is Missouri grabbing the 15 seed — not as a result of the Tigers did not deserve it, however due to how they turned their season round on the finish of March. They earned that seed over the past six weeks by successful extra SEC video games and taking part in their approach into the SEC match finals. In the course of March, a seed wasn’t trying like a chance for them.

Jenny Dalton-Hill: Once more, the Pac-12 appears to get slighted somewhat with Arizona State getting an 8-seed after successful the Pac-12’s computerized qualifier with no convention match. That match will start subsequent season, however I feel the labor of successful the Pac-12 is a giant deal and the Solar Devils did not get rewarded with a excessive sufficient seed. Figuring out that they beat UCLA two of thrice and completed convention play 20-4, the 8-seed was somewhat too low.

Kayla Braud: The seeding that stunned me probably the most was Missouri sneaking into the 15th seed. After beginning 0-5 in convention play, the Tigers needed to carry out extraordinarily properly down the stretch to play their approach into a number place. I would not have anticipated them to be a nationwide seed a couple of weeks in the past.

Madison Shipman: Missouri’s seeding stunned me in a great way. Should you would have advised me in the course of SEC play that Missouri could be a nationwide seed, I would not have believed you. The Tigers turned a nook midway by way of the season, and I like that they had been rewarded for the way properly their workforce is taking part in heading into the postseason.

Which seeded workforce has the hardest street to Oklahoma Metropolis?

Scarborough: I feel Washington has the hardest street to OKC. The Huskies should get by way of a Texas workforce that would’ve simply been seeded, after which in the event that they win their regional and Arkansas wins its, they should face the SEC champs in Fayetteville. Arkansas has the SEC Participant of the Yr in KB Sides and SEC Pitcher of the Yr, Chenise Delce, plus final 12 months’s co-SEC Pitcher of the Yr (Mary Haff) and three different gamers who had reputable instances for SEC Participant of the Yr this 12 months.

Dalton-Hill: I feel it goes with out saying that UCF may have the Goliath of a job to tackle Oklahoma if it advances to supers. I like that UCF is internet hosting for the primary time in class historical past, however the subsequent spherical could be a tall order for the gifted workforce.

Braud: The seeded workforce with the hardest street is Arkansas. Not solely do the Razorbacks have a troublesome regional that features a good Pac-12 workforce in Oregon, however in addition they host some of the harmful offenses within the nation, Wichita state, dwelling to Addison Barnard, who leads the nation with 32 dwelling runs. That is earlier than they even advance to supers, the place they’d doubtlessly match up with Washington, which beat them twice this season.

Shipman: UCF has a troublesome street to get to OKC. Any workforce that has the potential for taking part in Oklahoma goes to have its palms full determining a method to take down the Sooners. Nevertheless, UCF goes to come back into its regional with a ton of vitality seeking to make some noise as a nationwide seed for the primary time in program historical past. The Knights will likely be going through a number of powerful groups of their regional, together with Michigan, which beat them earlier this season.

Which unseeded workforce could be this 12 months’s James Madison?

Scarborough: Nebraska. The Huge Ten, as a convention, took a step ahead this season, and Nebraska has performed with a revived vitality. The Huskers have an incredible teaching workers, and Billie Andrews, who’s having a breakout season. They appear like a workforce that is taking part in properly on the proper time and is really taking part in collectively and for each other.

Dalton-Hill: Liberty is a workforce that has challenged itself all season. The Girl Flames began the 12 months with among the hardest opponents out of the gate and took their lumps. These losses will assist as they now match up in opposition to Duke of their regional, having overwhelmed them within the common season. And in the event that they do advance, can Dot Richardson beat her alma mater UCLA? Whereas I want to see a Cinderella workforce this 12 months, and I feel this postseason may have some parity, I feel principally the same old suspects will discover themselves in OKC.

Braud: An unseeded workforce that has an opportunity to make it to OKC is San Diego State with the pitching to get them there. Maggie Balint leads the Aztecs with 18 wins on the season and a 1.50 ERA.

Shipman: I am additionally going to maintain my eye on San Diego State. Maggie Balint has been excellent within the circle this season. I am a agency believer that you probably have dominant pitching, you will have an opportunity to make a run within the postseason.

Who’re the eight groups that can make the WCWS?

Scarborough: Oklahoma, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Duke.

Dalton-Hill: Oklahoma, ASU, UCLA, Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma State and FSU.

Braud: I am calling the video games, so I might fairly not choose who I feel goes, however I feel this could possibly be probably the most balanced match area this 12 months unfold out among the many conferences. I would not be stunned if two groups from every of the SEC, Pac-12, ACC and Huge 12 get in.