Oklahoma Sooners Set for Showdown Against California in NCAA Regional

NORMAN, OK — The No. 2-seeded Oklahoma Sooners will face the California Golden Bears in the Norman Regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. After an impressive 8-0 victory over Boston University in their opening game, the Sooners are looking to secure a place in the next stage of the tournament.

Oklahoma, boasting a record of 46-7, displayed dominant play on Friday at Love’s Field, scoring an emphatic win that exemplified their quest for a fifth consecutive national title. Chaney Helton’s first career home run contributed to the runaway victory.

On the other hand, California (36-19) narrowly beat Omaha 1-0, showcasing the pitching prowess of starter Annabel Tepperson, who limited the Mavericks to just two hits and struck out four batters. This sets up an intriguing matchup against Oklahoma’s pitching staff, which includes standout performances from pitchers Sam Landry and Kierston Deal.

As the Sooners prepare for this matchup, they also have additional arms in their bullpen with true freshman Audrey Lowry and veteran Isabella Smith ready to contribute. Lowry, in particular, has turned her performance around, allowing no runs in her last three appearances after a challenging outing against Texas earlier in the season.

The Oklahoma Sooners are on a mission not just to win this game but to maintain their position in the winner’s bracket of the regional. A win against Cal will move them one step closer to the NCAA Super Regional, set to take place against the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional.

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, giving fans a chance to watch the action unfold. With the stakes high, both teams are eager to advance further in the tournament.