2013 Softball World Series Norman Super Regional Breakdown
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
How They Advanced:
Not unexpectedly, the #1 ranked Sooners bullied their way through the regional, starting with a one-hit, 17-0 shelling of overmatched Marist. Keilani Ricketts and Michelle Gascoigne split time in the circle, collecting seven and five strikeouts respectively. In the second game, Fordham collected six hits but fell to Kimmy Beasley’s complete game effort in an Arkansas Razorback win.
On Saturday, Brittany Williams homered to help Oklahoma hold off Arkansas 10-5 in a game that was 6-5 in the 6th inning. Arkansas got to Ricketts for eight hits in 5 2/3 innings while Fordham was taking care of business against Marist. Winners of the Atlantic 10, the Rams outscored Marist 5-3, setting up the rematch with Arkansas in the loser’s bracket. The Razorback’s Amanda Geile and Andrea Sullivan each went yard to support the offensive effort. Arkansas pitching yielded 12 hits to the Rams, but held on for the win and advanced to Sunday.
The season-long #1 Sooners closed the book on Arkansas 14-1 to advance and host a Super Regional. Lauren Chamberlain and Shelby Pendley drove in three runs apiece and Keilani Ricketts got to leave the game early. Oklahoma scored five runs in the third, six in the fourth and tacked on two for good measure in the last of a five run affair.
College Station Regional:
In an absolutely wild regional at Texas A&M, the #16 Aggies dispatched Penn 12-0, picking up 14 hits in the process while yielding only one. Cassie Tysarczyk and Meagan May went yard for the home team. The Baylor Bears and Whitney Canion crushed the Arizona Wildcats 7-0 with Canion striking out seven. Holly Holl had two RBIs, scored twice and had two hits, including a home run.
Saturday got crazy. Baylor was cruising in the winner’s bracket against the Aggies, and had a 5-0 lead in the 6th inning thanks to a Claire Hosak grand slam that followed a blown bunt coverage by A&M. What looked to be a big win was ruined by first a Mel Demezich two run homer in the 6th to close the gap, then a Cali Lanphear three run dinger in the 7th tied it. The Aggies capped a ferocious comeback win with a Nicole Morgan walk-off shot one batter later. The excitement was still ringing in the stadium when Arizona, down 2-1 and down to their last out against Penn, scored on a Hallie Wilson single. The Wildcats held Penn in the 8th, and a Courtney Rodriguez sacrifice fly ended it, sending Arizona up against Baylor in a loser-go-home contest.
In the nightcap, Baylor bested the ‘Cats 8-4, allowing Baylor a rematch with A & M on Sunday. If there wasn’t enough excitement in College Station, Baylor climbed out of a 5-2 hole in the must-win game, scored seven runs in the fifth and sixth and forced a deciding game. Linsey Hayes took Mel Dumezich deep and Kathy Shelton was three for four with two RBIs. Whitney Canion was chased after three innings of work. In the final it was all A&M, who mercy-ruled Baylor 8-0. Amber Garza homered twice. Cali Lanphear homered. Meagan May homered. May homered again. The Aggies advance to play Oklahoma next week.
Oklahoma Super Regional Projection:
Texas A&M has plenty of weapons, pitching and power among them, and “anything can happen” as they say. The Aggies did reach the 100 home run mark this year. That being said, no one is stopping Oklahoma, not this week, not next week, and very possibly not this year. Sooners in a sweep.
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