Yet another shakeup this week in the top 5 in NCAA college softball, and familiar face is back in the #1 slot.
Texas Tech went into the weekend ranked #1, and had faced off against a very capable opponent in #12 ranked Arizona. Texas Tech won the 3 game series, but somehow dropped 2 spots this week and fell to #3.
There must have been another seismic event in the NCAA softball world last weekend? Oh right there was, #3 Oklahoma travelled to Texas for a 3 game series against the #1 ranked Longhorns. Oklahoma won the weekend series and has now taken over the #1 ranking in the nation.
And it was an incredible series. Game 1 was an elite pitchers duel between Texas ace Teagan Kavan and Oklahoma ace Audrey Lowry. Kaven pitched a complete game and notched 13 strike outs, but also gave up 3 earned runs while Lowry scattered 6 hits and 1 walk and allowed none.
In game 2, Miali Guachino started for the Sooners and allowed 2 earned runs, while Texas rested Kavan and used a trio of pitchers who, sadly for Texas, let in 4 earned and the Sooners clinched the series with a 4-3 victory.
In game 3, Oklahoma gave time to absolutely every pitcher on their staff, who collectively squared off against Kavan. And, somewhat shockingly, actually made it to extra innings against Kavan but Texas showed some real grit and won the final game of the series in the 8th inning, though they still came up with the short end of the weekend series.
Also of note, Oklahoma freshman catcher Kendall Wells hit a home run and pushed her NCAA leading total to 31. She also captured the all time freshman single season record with 31.
We also have a new #2 ranked team in the Alabama Crimson Tide who went 3-0 against Auburn over the weekend. But then yesterday they lost to Samford. Not #19 ranked Stanford. Samford. So I’m guessing they will not be long for the #1 spot.
