Follow EDN on Social Media |

The 2022 Women’s College World Series began Thursday in Oklahoma City, with eight teams vying for the Division I NCAA softball championship.

Oregon State is among three Pac-12 teams in the WCWS, joining UCLA and Arizona, while three Big 12 teams (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas) also are in the field. Rounding out the double-elimination tournament are Florida and Northwestern.

Here are some things to know about each of the eight teams in Oklahoma City.

ARIZONA (38-20)

Coach: Caitlin Lowe (38-20 in one season).

Last WCWS appearance: 2021.

National titles: 8 (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007).

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Columbia Regional: Beat Illinois 8-3, beat Missouri 2-0, beat Missouri 1-0. Won Starkville Super Regional. Beat Mississippi State 3-2, beat Mississippi State 7-1.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 1-7.

Top hitters: Jasmin Perezchica (.377, 43 runs, 10 stolen bases), Allie Skaggs (.371, 24 HRs, 58 RBIs), Izzy Pacho (.371, 11 HRs, 37 RBIs, 13 doubles), Carlie Scupin (.360, 19 HRs, 56 RBIs, 13 doubles), Sharlize Palacios (.331, 19 HRs, 62 RBIs).

Pitchers: Hanah Bowen (13-10, 3.67 ERA), Devyn Netz (15-7, 3.53), Madi Elish (8-3, 4.34).

FLORIDA (48-17)

Coach: Tim Walton (887-199 in 17 seasons).

Last WCWS appearance: 2019.

National titles: 2 (2014, 2015).

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Gainesville Regional. Beat Canisius College 10-1. Beat Georgia Tech 7-2. Beat Wisconsin 11-0. Won Blacksburg Super Regional: Lost to Virginia Tech 6-0, beat Virginia Tech 7-2, beat Virginia Tech 12-0.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 0-0.

Top hitters: Skylar Wallace (.406, 8 HRs, 53 RBIs, 79 runs, 51 stolen bases, 12 doubles), Kendra Falby (.401, 63 runs, 36 stolen bases), Hannah Adams (.379, 15 stolen bases), Charla Echols (.306, 15 doubles, 58 RBIs), Reagan Walsh (.275, 6 HRs, 50 RBIs).

Pitchers: Elizabeth Hightower (17-8, 2.44 ERA, Lexie Delbrey (15-3, 1.24), Natalie Lugo (11-5, 1.08).

NORTHWESTERN (45-11)

Coach: Kate Drohan (703-398-1 in 21 seasons).

Last WCWS appearance: 2007.

National titles: None.

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Evanston Regional: Beat Oakland 9-2, beat McNeese 17-3, beat McNeese 10-2. Won Tempe Super Regional: Beat Arizona State 4-3, lost to Arizona State 7-4, beat Arizona State 8-6.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 1-1.

Top hitters: Jordyn Rudd (.375, 11 doubles, 52 RBIs), Rachel Lewis (.356, 22 HRs, 61 RBIs, 66 runs, 26 stolen bases), Skyler Shellmyer (.354, 58 runs, 22 stolen bases), Nikki Cuchran (.341, 8 HRs, 50 RBIs), Hannah Cady (.291, 10 HRs, 39 RBIs), Maeve Nelson (.281, 12 HRs, 41 RBIs, 48 runs).

Pitchers: Danielle Williams (31-4, 1.86 ERA, 323 strikeouts in 241 innings, 7 saves).

OKLAHOMA (54-2)

Coach: Patty Gasso (1,390-343-2 in 28 seasons)

Last WCWS appearance: 2021 (national champion)

National titles: 5 (2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021).

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Norman Regional: Beat Prairie View A&M 14-0, beat Texas A&M 3-2, beat Texas A&M 20-0. Won Norman Super Regional: Beat Central Florida 8-0, beat Central Florida 7-1.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 7-2.

Top hitters: Jocelyn Alo (.497, 29 HRs, 72 RBIs, 72 runs, 49 walks, 11 doubles, 1.163 slugging pct.), Jayda Coleman (.429, 60 runs, 37 RBIs, 13 stolen bases), Grace Lyons (.418, 21 HRs, 62 RBIs, 61 runs, .899 slugging pct.), Tiare Jennings (24 HRs, 72 RBIs, 75 runs, .882 slugging pct.), Alyssa Brito (.372, 14 HRs, 43 RBIs, 43 runs), Taylon Snow (.357, 31 runs, 30 RBIs), Jana Johns (.323, 11 HRs, 44 RBIs, 43 runs), Lynnsie Elam (.308, 14 HRs, 44 RBIs).

Pitching: Jordy Bahl (21-1, 0.95 ERA, 199 strikeouts in 132 1/3 innings), Hope Trautwein (18-1, 0.40 ERA, 141 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings), Nicole May (15-0, 0.99 ERA).

OKLAHOMA STATE (46-12)

Coach: Kenny Gajewski (267-119 in seven seasons).

Last WCWS appearance: 2021.

National titles: None.

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Stillwater Regional: Beat Fordham 12-0, beat Nebraska 7-4, beat North Texas 2-0. Won Stillwater Super Regional. Beat Clemson 2-0, beat Clemson 5-1.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 6-3.

Top hitters: Katelynn Carwile (.353, 7 HRs, 33 RBIs), Miranda Elish (.351, 7 HRs, 31 RBIs), Sydney Pennington (.335, 10 HRs, 43 RBIs), Chelsea Alexander (.317, 27 runs, 20 stolen bases), Chyenne Factor (.303, 10 HRs, 33 RBIs), Julia Cottrill (.289, 11 HRs, 30 RBIs).

Pitchers: Kelly Maxwell (19-4, 1.16 ERA, 279 strikeouts in 169 innings), Miranda Elish (13-4, 2.09), Morgan Day (13-4, 2.56).

OREGON STATE (39-20)

Coach: Laura Berg (268-230-1 in 10 seasons).

Last WCWS appearance: 2006.

National titles: None.

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Knoxville Regional. Beat Ohio State 4-3, lost to Tennessee 3-0, beat Ohio State 5-1, beat Tennessee 8-3, beat Tennessee 3-1. Won Stanford Super Regional. Beat Stanford 3-1, beat Stanford 2-0.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 2-4.

Top hitters: Frankie Hammoude (.386, 15 HRs, 39 RBIs), Mariah Mazon (.366, 12 HRs, 40 RBIs), Kiki Escobar (.343, 41 runs, 10 stolen bases), Madison Simon (.248, 8 HRs, 24 RBIs), Grace Messmer (.244, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs.

Pitchers: Mariah Mazon (17-10, 1.60 ERA), Sarah Haendiges (13-6, 1.58 ERA).

TEXAS (43-19-1)

Coach: Mike White (156-53-1 in four seasons at Texas; 591-198-2 overall in 13 seasons)

Last WCWS appearance: 2013.

National titles: None.

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Seattle Regional: Beat Weber State 6-0, beat Washington 8-2, lost to Washington 2-1, beat Washington 3-2. Won Fayetteville Regional: Lost to Arkansas 7-1, beat Arkansas 3-1, beat Arkansas 3-0.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 1-7.

Top hitters: Janae Jefferson (.431, 70 runs, 33 RBIs, 16 stolen bases), Mia Scott (.370, 56 runs, 33 RBIs, 24 stolen bases), Alyssa Popelka (.352, 15 stolen bases), Mary Iakopo (.335, 10 HRs, 54 RBIs, 14 doubles).mcKenzie Parker (.268, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs).

Pitchers: Hailey Dolcini (22-10, 2.19 ERA), Estelle Czech (11-1, 3.41), Sophia Simpson (8-4, 3.63).

UCLA (48-8)

Coach: Kelly Inouye-Perez (720-188-1 in 16 seasons).

Last WCWS appearance: 2021.

National titles: 13 (1978 (AIAW), 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019).

Road to Oklahoma City: Won Los Angeles Regional: Beat Grand Canyon 12-1, beat Loyola Marymount 7-1; beat Ole Miss 9-1. Won Los Angeles Super Regional. Beat Duke 3-2 and 8-2.

2022 record vs. WCWS teams: 7-2.

Top hitters: Delanie Wisz (.407, 14 HRs, 58 RBIs), Briana Perez (.393, 10 HRs, 42 RBIs, 47 runs, 16 doubles, 16 stolen bases), Kinsley Washington (.355, 34 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 11 doubles), Savannah Pola (.349, 41 RBIs, 15 doubles), Maya Brady (.329, 46 RBIs, 49 runs, 11 doubles, 11 stolen bases).

Pitchers: Holly Azevedo (20-2, 1.19 ERA, 7 saves), Megan Faraimo (22-4, 1.70), Lauren Shaw (6-2, 0.89).

2022 WCWS SCHEDULE

At OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex | Oklahoma City

All times Pacific

Double elimination; x-if necessary

Thursday, June 2

Game 1: UCLA vs. Texas, 9 a.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Oklahoma vs. Northwestern, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Florida vs. Oregon State, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 4: Oklahoma St. vs. Arizona, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, June 3

Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Saturday, June 4

Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, noon (ABC)

Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday, June 5

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, noon (ABC)

Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)

Monday, June 6

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 9 a.m. (ESPN)

x-Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)

Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

x-Game 14: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

WCWS Finals

(Best of three)

Game 1: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8

Game 2: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9

x-Game 3: 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 10

— The Associated Press

Original Article: Source