The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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#1 Oklahoma
No. 16/18 Softball WCWS preview: the Championship Series
06.07.2022 | Softball
It's the Red River Rivalry for the national title as the Longhorns & Sooners battle in a best-of-three series over June 8-10.
No. 16/18 Texas (47-20-1, 12-6 Big 12) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (57-3, 17-1 Big 12) in the WCWS Championship Series | June 8-10 | Oklahoma City, Okla.
Schedule:
Wednesday, June 8
7:30 p.m. #16/18 TEXAS vs. #1 Oklahoma – ESPN
Thursday, June 9
6:30 p.m. #16/18 TEXAS vs. #1 Oklahoma – ESPN2
Friday, June 10
7:30 p.m. #16/18 TEXAS vs. #1 Oklahoma – ESPN
(if necessary)
**All Times Central
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. (USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium)
Television: The WCWS Championship Series match-ups are scheduled for broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2 with Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Jessica Mendoza & Michele Smith (analysts) and Holly Rowe (reporter) on the call.
Radio: Texas' games are scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can also be heard locally on 105.3 FM as part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- The 2022 Texas squad became the FIRST UNSEEDED TEAM OVERALL and the first Longhorns team in program history to reach the WCWS Championship Series. UT has now advanced to at least the national semifinals on four separate occasions (2003, 2005, 2013, 2022).
- Texas is 6-0 in elimination games in this year's NCAA Tournament (wins over No. 11 Washington, No. 4 Arkansas-two, Arizona and No.6/7 Oklahoma State-two).
- Sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech is making the most of her WCWS experience as the lefty is 2-0 with a team-best 1.11 ERA over three WCWS appearances. Now boasting a 13-1 overall record in 2022, her .929 winning percentage is the second-best in Texas single-season history (minimum 10 decisions) behind only Kim Bruins (10-0, 2013).
- Texas has now hit seven combined HR's at the 2022 WCWS. That's as many as the Longhorns managed to hit combining its five previous trips to the WCWS.
- Courtney Day is having some trip to Oklahoma City. The sophomore OF enters the championship series having hit a HR in three straight WCWS games and has become Texas' all-time leader in career WCWS HR's (three) & RBIs (seven).
- Texas has made turning double plays an artform during the NCAA Tournament by registering 10 double plays over a 12-game stretch (five of those during the WCWS). With 27 total double plays this season, the Longhorns have broken the old single-season mark of 26 formerly held by the 2021 squad.
- Texas' NCAA Tournament road has been anything but easy as the Longhorns have played 10 of their 12 total games against nationally-ranked teams (all ranked No. 11 or higher) with six of those coming on the road. UT is an impressive 7-3 in those match-ups.
- Mia Scott keeps climbing the Texas single-season steals chart. The freshman third baseman now has 26 thefts in 2022, good for seventh all-time in program history. In fact, only three Longhorns have ever swiped more in a single campaign: Brejae Washington, Shannon Thomas & Taylor Hoagland.
- Texas has been getting offensive contributions from throughout its line-up at the WCWS as seven players own at least one RBI, while six have registered two or more. Sophomore OF Courtney Day leads the team with seven RBIs.
- Defense is always vital but especially so for Texas as the Longhorns are 26-2-1 when making no errors. Contrast that to just a 21-18 mark when suffering at least one miscue.
- Texas has had at least one runner on base in 25-of-33 WCWS offensive innings in 2022 and have stranded a total of 21. That came back to hurt against No. 1 Oklahoma as UT had at least one on in all seven innings, but left seven stranded.
- By taking the field on Wednesday against Oklahoma, Texas will play its 69th game of the 2022 season. That extends the record for most games ever played by UT in a single year.
- Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson owns a program record 39 career NCAA Tournament hits. She's managed 20 hits in regional play, 15 in super regional action and now has four WCWS hits after a double vs. #6/7 Oklahoma State.
