The 2024 NCAA DI softball Women’s College World Series is set. The eight-team field, consisting of (1) Texas, (2) Oklahoma, (4) Florida, (5) Oklahoma State, (6) UCLA, (8) Stanford, (10) Duke and (16) Alabama will compete in Oklahoma City starting May 30.
This year, we have so many storylines. Oklahoma is starting to play its best and is seeking its fourth straight national championship. Texas has been flexing all season long and enters as the top seed. It faces the best pitcher in the country, NiJaree Canady, in its opening game. Many think Oklahoma and Oklahoma State could meet in the Championship Series, bringing bedlam to the finale. Let’s dive right into the first round.
No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 14 Alabama
After digging deeper into the numbers, it’s clear the Crimson Tide’s biggest weakness is their offense. Sure, they’ve got some decent bats in Kenleigh Cahalan and Jenna Johnson, but their team batting average is only .265. This lineup doesn’t pack the same punch as the Bruins.
Meanwhile, the UCLA Bruins bring some serious firepower to the plate. Maya Brady is an absolute beast, batting .431 with 17 bombs. And Sharlize Palacios is no slouch either, crushing 20 dingers. This lineup can flat-out rake.
On the mound, the Tide does have a solid pitching staff, led by Kayla Beaver’s 1.58 ERA. But the Bruins’ duo of Taylor Tinsley and Kaitlyn Terry is no joke either, with Tinsley’s 2.53 ERA and Terry’s 21 wins. They’ve got the arms to neutralize Alabama’s offense.
When you put it all together, the edge has to go to UCLA in this one. Their explosive lineup and quality pitching staff may be too much for the Tide to handle. Alabama’s lack of offensive firepower will be their Achilles’ heel against this Bruins squad. With that said, they have shown a level of scrappiness throughout this tournament that makes us take note. The Bama coaching staff knows what they are doing and will have the Tide ready to Roll.
It’s going to be a hard-fought battle, no doubt. But in the end, we see the Bruins’ big bats and deep pitching staff carrying them to victory. Alabama just doesn’t have enough juice in the lineup to get past the Bruins.
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 Duke
Alright, let’s take a look at this heavyweight matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Duke Blue Devils in the Women’s College World Series.
The Sooners are stacked offensively. This lineup is the toughest in the nation. Ella Parker is hitting .419 with 12 bombs, Rylie Boone is batting .415, and Alyssa Brito is crushing it with 18 dingers. Top to bottom, this Oklahoma offense is a force to be reckoned with.
And the Sooners’ pitching staff isn’t a slouch either. Kierston Deal, Kelly Maxwell, and Nicole May form a dominant trio on the mound. Deal’s 1.67 ERA and Maxwell’s 20 wins give Oklahoma the pitching depth to shut down any lineup.
But the Blue Devils are not a cakewalk either. This Duke team can straight-up rake. Claire Davidson is tearing the cover off the ball, batting .439 with 18 homers. And D’Auna Jennings is no slouch either, hitting .402. This lineup has the firepower to hang with the Sooners.
And on the mound, the Blue Devils also bring some severe heat. Jala Wright and Cassidy Curd form a nasty 1-2 punch, with Wright’s 1.28 ERA and Curd’s 1.29 mark. They’ve got the arms to neutralize Oklahoma’s big bats.
When you put it all together, this will be one heck of a series. Two powerhouse offenses are going toe-to-toe with equally dominant pitching staffs. It’s going to come down to who can impose their will and execute when the pressure’s on.
But when we look at these two teams’ overall talent and depth, we give the Sooners an edge. That Oklahoma lineup is too strong, with too many weapons for Duke to handle. And the Sooners’ pitching staff has the firepower to keep the Blue Devils’ bats in check.
It’s gonna be a game, no doubt.
No.1 Texas vs. No. 8 Stanford
First, let’s talk about that Texas lineup. Holy smokes, these Longhorns can hit. Reese Atwood is an absolute beast, batting .435 with 23 bombs. Mia Scott is no slouch either, hitting .410 with 10 dingers. And Bella Dayton, Viviana Martinez, Kayden Henry – this lineup is loaded with firepower.
In the circle, Texas has a solid pitching staff as well. Citlaly Gutierrez, Mac Morgan, and Teagan Kavan have all been dominant, with ERAs under 2.50. This Longhorns squad has the offensive punch and pitching depth to make a deep run.
But don’t count out the Stanford Cardinals. This team can play. Emily Jones, Taryn Kern, and Aly Kaneshiro lead an offense that can hang with Texas. And on the mound, NiJaree Canady has been an absolute stud, posting a minuscule 0.65 ERA. Canady is currently the best pitcher in the country.
When you put it all together, this will be an interesting matchup. Two powerhouse teams with elite offenses and dominant pitching staffs will go toe-to-toe. It’s going to come down to who can execute under pressure and make the plays when it matters most.
But when we look at these two squads’ overall talent and depth, Texas has a slight edge. That Texas lineup is just good. The question is, can Canady shut them down? If she does, this could be a big upset. This is one of the more intriguing first-round games.
No. 4 Florida vs. No. 5 Oklahoma State
It’s go time for the Florida Gators and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.
Let’s start with the Gators’ firepower. This lineup is loaded with big-time bats. Skylar Wallace is a human highlight reel, batting .421 with 14 bombs and 36 steals. Jocelyn Erickson is an RBI machine, crushing 13 homers and driving in 80 runs. And Reagan Walsh has the pop to take any pitcher deep, with 17 dingers on the year.
But the Gators aren’t just about the offense – their pitching staff is young but deep. Keagan Rothrock has been a workhorse, racking up 30 wins with a 2.43 ERA. This power pitcher is going to keep Florida in every game. And Ava Brown and Mackenzie Wooten provide quality depth with Brown’s crafty approach and Wooten’s electric stuff.
Now, let’s talk about the Cowgirls. This Oklahoma State lineup is downright scary. Caroline Wang is a straight-up slugger, batting .380 with 17 homers. And Karli Godwin is no slouch either, hitting .344 with 15 bombs and 51 RBIs. This offense can sting you from top to bottom.
And the Cowgirls’ pitching staff isn’t to be overlooked either. Lexi Kilfoyl has been dominant, posting a 1.06 ERA and 146 strikeouts. Ivy Rosenberry and Kyra Aycock provide an excellent 1-2 punch behind her, giving Oklahoma State the depth to match up with any lineup.
It’s going to be a knockdown, drag-out battle, that’s for sure. These two teams are stacked on both sides of the ball.
When you look at the personnel, the edge goes to the Cowgirls. That Cowgirl pitching staff is just dominant. Lexi Kilfoyl is an absolute ace, and Ivy Rosenberry and Kyra Aycock give them quality depth against a Florida lineup that, while powerful, can be susceptible to strikeouts. Florida also has the arms, but the difference will be in the experience with Florida having such a young staff. And let’s remember that Cowgirl offense. Caroline Wang and Karli Godwin are straight-up mashers who can take any pitcher deep.
Sure, the Gators have the firepower to hang with Oklahoma State. Skylar Wallace, Jocelyn Erickson, and Reagan Walsh can all go yard. And Keagan Rothrock is a workhorse who will keep them in games. When the dust settles, Oklahoma State is the slight favorite.
We Predict a Bedlam Final of: Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State.
