5 Things to Watch for in College Softball This Weekend
Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
Weekend number two in Mexico kicks off on Thursday, February 15th. Competing on the playing field this weekend will be Oregon, Houston, Rutgers, Texas, and Ole Miss. A match-up you won’t want to miss will occur on Saturday between No 3. Ranked Oregon and No. 15 Ole Miss. The Ducks came out with hot bats opening weekend, plating 73 runs on 76 hits in six games played, five of which ended short due to run-rule. The Ducks also have five players batting .500 or better on the season, leading the way is Mary Iakopo’s .692 average. The Rebels are coming off a 3-1 opening weekend from the rain-shortened Sand Dollar Classic. Heading into the weekend, Ole Miss outfielder Elantra Cox is just three hits away from breaking the school record for career base hits. The senior currently has 221 hits in her career. Oregon and Ole Miss take the field together on Saturday, February 17th, first pitch is slated for 6 p.m. PT.
Big Ten/ACC Challenge
Four teams will compete in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Tallahassee this upcoming weekend. The two teams representing the Big Ten are Minnesota and Michigan. The ACC will be represented by host Florida State and Notre Dame. Our game of the week will also be taking place this weekend when No. 6 Florida State face-off against No. 14 Minnesota on Friday. Both teams head into the weekend with undefeated records and powerful hitting line-ups. The Seminole offense batted .422 as a team last weekend and the Gophers hit .319. Buckle yourseatbeltss because both teams also have a solid one-two punch in the pitching circle.
Florida vs. ULL
The Gators and the Ragin Cajuns will face off this weekend in Lafayette for a three-game series kicking off with a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. The No. 2 Florida softball team went undefeated on opening weekend. The Gators pitched by a committee on weekend one, we will be curious to see how they use their talented staff headed into weekend two. ULL also went undefeated opening weekend. They were led by senior pitcher Kylee Jo Trahan who earned three of Louisiana’s five victories. Trahan yielded just one run and scattered five hits over 15 innings of work. The Ragin Cajuns appear to have settled in and are adjusting well to new head coach Gerry Glasco and staff.
Black and Gold Tournament
A game to pay attention to this upcoming weekend will be taking place in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The matchup will be between No. 9 Alabama and No. 12 Baylor and is set to take place on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. CT. Alabama finished opening weekend 3-0 after shutting out three opponents at the rained out Sand Dollar Classic. Baylor also went 3-0 opening weekend and had dominant pitching in the circle from Gia Rodoni. The junior tossed her third-straight no-hitter in starts at Getterman Stadium, continuing a streak from 2017 when she threw back-to-back no-no’s to close out the NCAA Waco Regional. If both teams throw their ace for this matchup, expect a competitive pitcher’s duel between Rodoni and Alabama’s Alexis Osorio.
Troy Cox Classic
Five teams will be lacing up their cleats and taking the field in Las Cruces, New Mexico this weekend. The teams include No.1 Oklahoma, host New Mexico State, Ball State, and Boston College. The Sooners went undefeated opening weekend at the GCU Kickoff Tournament. OU’s 5-0 start to the season marks the first time the Sooners have won their first five games since 2015. Senior OU pitcher Paige Parker has looked sharp in the circle for the Sooners. Parker tossed 12.1 innings opening weekend with 13 strikeouts and scattered five hits. The Sooners kick off the weekend against Ball State on Friday, February 16th.
