The Oklahoma Sooners are back where they belong—hosting an NCAA Regional and chasing another trip to the Women's College World Series. For a program that's made 19 appearances in Oklahoma City and is aiming for its 10th straight, the road starts right at home in the Norman Regional.
The Sooners will welcome Kansas (35-19, 14-10 Big 12), Michigan (34-20, 11-13 Big Ten), and Binghamton (20-25, 15-5 America East) to town. While the field features a mix of familiar conference foes and a tournament Cinderella, Softball America recently ranked all 16 regionals from toughest to easiest—and Oklahoma landed at No. 15, making theirs the second-easiest path on paper.
But don't let that ranking fool you. Softball America's Brady Vernon noted that the Sooners' biggest vulnerability is in the circle. "By losing two high-scoring games. Expect plenty of runs in this regional unless the Sooners’ pitching staff rises to the occasion," Vernon wrote. "Kansas and Michigan have both hit the ball extremely well this season."
He pointed to Big 12 Freshman of the Year Ella Boyer from Kansas and Michigan star Lauren Putz as players to watch. Still, Vernon admitted it's hard to imagine Oklahoma losing twice, given the pitching struggles both the Jayhawks and Wolverines have faced this season.
That said, the Sooners have had their own issues keeping the ball in the park. Oklahoma has allowed 59 home runs this season, ranking 12th most in the SEC. For context, only six Big Ten teams and two Big 12 teams have given up more long balls. While the Sooners can certainly light up the scoreboard, they'll need more consistency from the circle to not only advance past the regional but also take down Oregon in the super regional and punch another ticket to OKC.
Michigan enters hitting .311 as a team, while Kansas is swinging at a .330 clip—good for third in the Big 12. That makes for a dangerous combination if the Sooners' pitching staff doesn't lock in. But with the bats they bring to the plate, this opening weekend is a golden opportunity for Oklahoma to regain its rhythm and prove why they're still one of the most feared programs in the country.