OKLAHOMA CITY — The NCAA Division I softball super regionals are looking a lot like a Southeastern Conference tournament.
Conference USA’s Liberty knocked out top overall seed Texas A&M, an SEC member, during last weekend’s double-elimination regionals for the 64-team NCAA tourney, which is already down to its final 16. Even without the Aggies, nine of the remaining teams are from the powerhouse conference and could qualify for the eight-team Women’s College World Series by winning two of three in super regionals this weekend.
First-year SEC member Oklahoma, the No. 2 seed and a four-time reigning national champion, will host fellow league program Alabama with a WCWS spot at stake in a series that starts Friday.
Alabama, seeded 15th and the winner of its Tuscaloosa Regional last weekend, hosted the Sooners in April and took two of three. Still, Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso believes her team is on the rise heading into the Norman Super Regional opener.
“I’ve said to you that this team hasn’t peaked,” Gasso said after the clinching regional win against California in Norman on Sunday. “I’m starting to feel something right now, and it’s pretty exciting. I could not be more pleased right now that this team is starting to hit on all their cylinders.”