No. 1 Oklahoma Softball vs. No. 9 Texas: How to watch, weekend preview, key players, schedule,
The Red River Showdown resumes this weekend at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City and then heads to Marita Hynes Field in Norman for a renewal of one of the great rivalries in college softball.
The No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners play host to the No. 8/9 Texas Longhorns in what’s anticipated to be a capacity crowd.
A rematch of the 2022 Women’s College World Series, the showdown is getting the attention it deserves with the Saturday and Sunday games getting a bump from ESPN+ to ESPN2.
Gone are stars Jocelyn Alo and Janae Jefferson, but the series still has a ton of star power on both sides. Although for Texas, it takes on a bit of youth movement.
Juniors Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, and Alyssa Brito lead the way offensively for the Sooners, while freshmen Leighanne Goode and Reese Atwood do a lot of the heavy lifting for the Longhorns.
It will be a fantastic series between the two sides, here’s what you need to know to get ready for the top 10 rivalry series.
Weekend Schedule and Broadcast Info
Jun 9, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners left fielder Alyssa Brito (33) dives safely into home ahead of the tag by Texas Longhorns catcher Mary Iakopo (33) during the fourth inning in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the National Championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Game 1: Friday, March 31, 6 pm CT (ESPN+)
Game 2: Saturday, April 1, 11 am CT (ESPN2)
Game 3: Sunday, April 1, 11 am CT (ESPN2)
Sooners to Watch
Jun 9, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners left fielder Alyssa Brito (33) yells after making the final out during the fifth inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the National Championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
[autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], CF: .500 batting average with 8 home runs, 23 RBIs, .949 slugging percentage, .639 on-base percentage, and 11 stolen bases.
[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], 2B: .422 batting average with 7 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .759 slugging percentage.
[autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag], UTIL: .440 batting average with 8 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .881 slugging percentage.
[autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], C: .390 batting average with 6 home runs, 29 RBIs, and a .763 slugging percentage.
[autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag], UTIL: .427 batting average with 6 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .787 slugging percentage, .538 on base percentage.
Jocelyn Erickson, 1B: .419 batting average with 6 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .823 slugging percentage, .463 on base percentage.
[autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], P: 9-0, 0.39 ERA, 54 innings pitched and 82 strikeouts, opponent’s batting average of .128.
[autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag], P: 11-0, 0.80 ERA, 52.2 innings pitched and 73 strikeouts, opponent’s batting average of .131.
[autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag], P: 8-1, 1.29 ERA, 59 innings pitched and 74 strikeouts, opponent’s batting average of .176.
Longhorns to Watch
Texas’ Alyssa Washington (11) and Janae Jefferson (2) celebrate after Texas scored a run in the first inning of the second game of the championship series in the Women’s College World Series between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Texas Longhorns at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Leighanne Goode, INF: .413 batting average with 6 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .698 slugging percentage.
Courtney Day, 1B: .333 batting average with 7 home runs, 22 RBIs, and a .600 slugging percentage.
Reese Atwood, C/1B: .315 batting average with 7 home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .576 slugging percentage.
Citlaly Gutierrez, P: 10-1, 1.75 ERA, 64 innings pitched and 53 strikeouts, opponent batting average of .215.
Estelle Czech, P: 7-2, 1.84 ERA, 61 innings pitched and 60 strikeouts, opponent batting average of .175.
Mac Morgan, P: 10-1, 2.13 ERA, 79 innings pitched and 47 strikeouts, opponent batting average of .215.
Sophia Simpson, P: 3-1, 1.71 ERA, 41 innings pitched and 59 strikeouts, opponent batting average of .214.
Behind the Numbers
Oklahoma’s Hope Trautwein (7) and Taylon Snow (5) celebrates the last out in front of Texas’ Alyssa Washington (11) during the second game of the championship series in the Women’s College World Series between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Texas Longhorns at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
OU holds a 53-25 advantage over the Texas Longhorns all-time.
The Oklahoma Sooners have won 27 of their last 28 contests against the Texas Longhorns, including 10 consecutive series wins.
The last time the two sides met, Oklahoma outscored the Longhorns 26-5 in a two-game sweep in the Women’s College World Series championship.
Texas’ team batting average is .351, and they allow opponents to hit just .205 in 2023.
Oklahoma is batting .391 this season and allowing opponents to hit .149.
The Sooners have a team ERA of 1.00, and the Longhorns team ERA is 1.89.
Texas is outscoring opponents 254-89 in 2023, while Oklahoma is outscoring their opponents 278-27.
Oklahoma’s hit 57 home runs to Texas 35 this season and the Sooners have 10 more doubles than their Red River counterparts.
Prediction
Oklahoma’s Jayda Coleman (24) celebrates beside Texas’ Alyssa Washington (11) at second base in the first inning of the second game of the championship series in the Women’s College World Series between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Texas Longhorns at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoma Sooners hold an edge in pretty much every statistical category coming into the weekend series. Given the success OU has had over Texas, there’s no reason to go against the grain here.
Texas has played some good softball this season, but the Sooners are still the Oklahoma Sooners. One or two of these games might be close, but expect Oklahoma to be locked in from the word go and pick up the three-game sweep in Oklahoma City.
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