2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament

Last updated

2023 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site
Champions Oklahoma  (7th title)
Runner-up Florida State (12th WCWS Appearance)
Winning coach Patty Gasso  (7th title)
MOP Jordy Bahl (Oklahoma)

The 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 19 through June 8, 2023, as the final part of the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The tournament culminated with the 2023 Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. [1]

Contents

Charlotte, Eastern Illinois, George Mason, North Carolina Central, Northern Colorado, Northern Kentucky, and Omaha made their NCAA Division I softball tournament debuts. [2] Arizona failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1986, while Michigan failed to make the tournament for the first time since 1994. [3] [4]

Format

A total of 64 teams will enter the tournament, with 32 of them receiving an automatic bid by either winning their conference's tournament or by finishing in first place in their conference. The remaining 32 bids will be at-large, with selections extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. [5]

Bids

The Big West and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences had their automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner. [6]

Automatic

ConferenceSchoolBest finishLast NCAA appearance
America East UMBC Regionals
(2002, 2019, 2021, 2022)
2022
American UCF Super Regional
(2022)
2022
ASUN Central Arkansas Regionals
(2015)
2015
ACC Florida State National Champion
(2018)
2022
Atlantic 10 George Mason First appearanceFirst appearance
Big 12 Oklahoma National Champion
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022)
2022
Big East Seton Hall Regionals
(2005)
2005
Big Sky Northern Colorado First appearance [a] First appearance [a]
Big South Campbell Regionals
(1995, 2008, 2009, 2021, 2022)
2022
Big Ten Northwestern WCWS
(1984, 1985, 1986, 2006, 2007, 2022)
2022
Big West Long Beach State WCWS
(1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
2021
CAA Hofstra Super Regionals
(2012)
2018
Conference USA Middle Tennessee Regionals
(2000)
2018
Horizon Northern Kentucky First appearanceFirst appearance
Ivy League Harvard Regionals
(1998, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019)
2019
MAAC Marist Regionals
(2006, 2013, 2016)
2016
MAC Miami (OH) Regionals
(2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2022)
2022
MEAC North Carolina Central First appearanceFirst appearance
Missouri Valley Southern Illinois WCWS
(1970, 1977, 1978)
2021
Mountain West San Diego State Regionals
(2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022)
2022
NEC LIU Regionals
(2008, 2012, 2016)
2016
Ohio Valley Eastern Illinois First appearance [b] First appearance [b]
Pac-12 Utah WCWS
(1985, 1991, 1994)
2017
Patriot Boston University Regionals
(1996, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)
2021
SEC Tennessee WCWS Runner-Up
(2007, 2013)
2022
Southern UNC Greensboro Regionals
(1997, 2018, 2021)
2021
Southland McNeese Regionals
(1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
2022
SWAC Prairie View A&M Regionals
(2018, 2022)
2022
Summit Omaha First appearance [c] First appearance [c]
Sun Belt Louisiana Third Place
(1993)
2022
WAC Grand Canyon Regionals
(2022)
2022
West Coast Loyola Marymount Regionals
(2005, 2007)
2022
  1. 1 2 Northern Colorado appeared in the AIAW Women's College World Series 11 times from 1969—1979 prior to the NCAA sponsoring women's athletics. Its best finish was runner-up (3 times: in 1974, 1976, and 1978).
  2. 1 2 Eastern Illinois appeared in the AIAW Women's College World Series twice (1971, 1974) prior to the NCAA sponsoring women's athletics. Its best finish was 5th place in 1974.
  3. 1 2 Omaha appeared in the AIAW Women's College World Series 10 times (1969—1973, 1975—1979) prior to the NCAA sponsoring women's athletics. Its best finish was a National Championship in 1975.

At-large

TeamConference
Alabama SEC
Arkansas SEC
Auburn SEC
Baylor Big 12
California Pac-12
Cal State Fullerton Big West
Charlotte Conference USA
Clemson ACC
Duke ACC
Florida SEC
Georgia SEC
Indiana Big Ten
Kentucky SEC
Liberty ASUN
Louisville ACC
LSU SEC
Minnesota Big Ten
Missouri SEC
Nebraska Big Ten
Notre Dame ACC
Oklahoma State Big 12
Ole Miss SEC
Oregon Pac-12
South Carolina SEC
Stanford Pac-12
Texas Big 12
Texas A&M SEC
Texas State Sun Belt
UCLA Pac-12
Virginia Tech ACC
Washington Pac-12
Wichita State American

By conference

ConferenceTotalSchools
SEC 12Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M
ACC 6Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech
Pac-12 6California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Washington
Big 12 4Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas
Big Ten 4Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern
American 2UCF, Wichita State
ASUN 2Central Arkansas, Liberty
Big West 2Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State
Conference USA 2Charlotte, Middle Tennessee
Sun Belt 2Louisiana, Texas State
America East 1UMBC
Atlantic 10 1George Mason
Big East 1Seton Hall
Big Sky 1Northern Colorado
Big South 1Campbell
CAA 1Hofstra
Horizon 1Northern Kentucky
Ivy League 1Harvard
MAAC 1Marist
Mid-American 1Miami (OH)
MEAC 1North Carolina Central
Missouri Valley 1Southern Illinois
Mountain West 1San Diego State
Northeast 1LIU
Ohio Valley 1Eastern Illinois
Patriot 1Boston University
SoCon 1UNC Greensboro
Southland 1McNeese
Southwestern 1Prairie View A&M
Summit 1Omaha
WAC 1Grand Canyon
West Coast 1Loyola Marymount

National seeds

Sixteen national seeds were announced on the Selection Show, on Sunday, May 14 at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advanced to the Women's College World Series. [7] [8]

Regionals and Super Regionals

The Regionals took place May 19–21. The Super Regionals will take place May 25–28.

Norman Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
1 Oklahoma11(5)
Hofstra 0
1 Oklahoma11(6)
Missouri 0
California 1
Missouri5(8)
1 Oklahoma16(5)
Norman Regional – Marita Hynes Field
California 3
Hofstra 0
California7
Missouri 5
California7
1 Oklahoma98(9)
16 Clemson 2 7
16 Clemson17(5)
UNC Greensboro 2
16 Clemson7
Auburn 0
Auburn12(5)
Cal State Fullerton 2
16 Clemson2 5
Clemson Regional – McWhorter Stadium
Auburn 51
UNC Greensboro 0
Cal State Fullerton5
Auburn5
Cal State Fullerton 0

Durham Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
8 Duke2
George Mason 1
8 Duke5
Charlotte 0
Charlotte7
Campbell 2
8 Duke4
Durham Regional – Duke Softball Stadium
Charlotte 2
George Mason 1
Campbell7
Charlotte6
Campbell 4
8 Duke 1 2
9 Stanford37
9 Stanford1
Long Beach State 0
9 Stanford8(6)
Florida 0
Florida3
Loyola Marymount 2
9 Stanford11
Stanford Regional – Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium
Florida 2
Long Beach State 1
Loyola Marymount2
Florida10
Loyola Marymount 6

Tuscaloosa Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
5 Alabama5
LIU 0
5 Alabama12
Middle Tennessee 5
Central Arkansas 0
Middle Tennessee8(5)
5 Alabama1 1
Tuscaloosa Regional – Rhoads Stadium
Middle Tennessee 40
LIU 0
Central Arkansas15(5)
Middle Tennessee3
Central Arkansas 0
5 Alabama1 23
12 Northwestern 31 2
12 Northwestern2
Eastern Illinois 0
12 Northwestern10
Kentucky 8
Kentucky9(6)
Miami (OH) 1
12 Northwestern5
Evanston Regional – Sharon J. Drysdale Field
Miami (OH) 4
Eastern Illinois 0
Miami (OH)4
Kentucky 0
Miami (OH)9(5)

Knoxville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
4 Tennessee12(5)
Northern Kentucky 0
4 Tennessee9(5)
Indiana 1
Indiana4
Louisville 3
4 Tennessee7
Knoxville Regional – Sherri Parker Lee Stadium
Indiana 3
Northern Kentucky 1
Louisville9(5)
Indiana4
Louisville 2
4 Tennessee59
13 Texas 2 0
13 Texas8(5)
Seton Hall 0
13 Texas2
Texas A&M 1
Texas A&M2(8)
Texas State 1
13 Texas11
Austin Regional – Red and Charline McCombs Field
Texas A&M 5
Seton Hall 3
Texas State4
Texas A&M4
Texas State 2

Tallahassee Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
3 Florida State9(5)
Marist 0
3 Florida State5
UCF 1
South Carolina 1
UCF6
3 Florida State0 1
Tallahassee Regional – JoAnne Graf Field
South Carolina 40
Marist 1
South Carolina2
UCF 1
South Carolina10
3 Florida State84
14 Georgia 1 2
14 Georgia12(5)
North Carolina Central 0
14 Georgia8
Virginia Tech 3
Virginia Tech6
Boston University 1
14 Georgia12(6)
Athens Regional – Jack Turner Stadium
Virginia Tech 3
North Carolina Central 0
Boston University8(6)
Virginia Tech9(5)
Boston University 0

Stillwater Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
6 Oklahoma State9(6)
UMBC 0
6 Oklahoma State6
Wichita State 0
Wichita State6
Nebraska 5
6 Oklahoma State5
Stillwater Regional – Cowgirl Stadium
Nebraska 2
UMBC 2
Nebraska3
Wichita State 8
Nebraska9(9)
6 Oklahoma State89
Oregon 1 0
11 Arkansas11(5)
Harvard 0
11 Arkansas 4
Oregon10
Oregon5
Notre Dame 4
Oregon14(5)
Fayetteville Regional – Bogle Park
11 Arkansas 4
Harvard 2
Notre Dame5
11 Arkansas5
Notre Dame 0

Seattle Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
7 Washington10(6)
Northern Colorado 2
7 Washington3
McNeese 1
Minnesota 4
McNeese5(13)
7 Washington0 7
Seattle Regional – Husky Softball Stadium
McNeese 16
Northern Colorado 0
Minnesota4
McNeese1
Minnesota 0
7 Washington8(5)2
Louisiana 0 0
10 LSU12(5)
Prairie View A&M 2
10 LSU4
Louisiana 0
Louisiana5
Omaha 0
10 LSU 4 8
Baton Rouge Regional – Tiger Park
Louisiana79
Prairie View A&M 0
Omaha3
Louisiana9(5)
Omaha 0

Salt Lake City Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
2 UCLA 2
Grand Canyon3
Grand Canyon 0
San Diego State6
Liberty 0
San Diego State7
San Diego State6
Los Angeles Regional – Easton Stadium
Liberty 3
2 UCLA 1
Liberty2
Grand Canyon 1
Liberty5
San Diego State 41 2
15 Utah3 10(5)7
15 Utah11
Southern Illinois 9
15 Utah7
Ole Miss 1
Baylor 0
Ole Miss3
15 Utah4
Salt Lake City Regional – Dumke Family Softball Stadium
Ole Miss 1
Southern Illinois 9
Baylor13(9)
Ole Miss9
Baylor 2

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held June 1 through June 9 in Oklahoma City.

Participants

SchoolConferenceRecord (conference)Head coachWCWS appearances†
(including 2023 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†*WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2023 WCWS)
Alabama SEC 44–20 (14–10) Patrick Murphy 14
(last: 2021)
1st
(2012)
22–25
Florida State ACC 55–8 (22–2) Lonni Alameda 12
(last: 2021)
1st
(2018)
18–20
Oklahoma Big 12 56–1 (18–0) Patty Gasso 16
(last: 2022)
1st
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022)
43–23
Oklahoma State Big 12 46–14 (10–8) Kenny Gajewski 11
(last: 2022)
3rd
(1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2022)
15–20
Stanford Pac-12 44–13 (14–10) Jessica Allister 3
(last: 2004)
4th
(2001, 2004)
4–4
Tennessee SEC 49–8 (19–5) Karen Weekly 8
(last: 2015)
2nd
(2007, 2013)
15–14
Washington Pac-12 43–13 (16–8) Heather Tarr 15
(last: 2019)
1st
(2009)
26–23
Utah Pac-12 42–14 (15–9) Amy Hogue 4
(last: 1994)
5th
(1994)
1–6

Bracket

First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
1 Oklahoma2
9 Stanford 0
1 Oklahoma9(5)
4 Tennessee 0
4 Tennessee10
5 Alabama 5
1 Oklahoma4(9)
9 Stanford 2
9 Stanford2
5 Alabama 0
7 Washington 0
9 Stanford1
1 Oklahoma53
3 Florida State 0 1
3 Florida State8(6)
6 Oklahoma State 0
3 Florida State3
7 Washington 1
7 Washington4
15 Utah 1
3 Florida State5
4 Tennessee 1
6 Oklahoma State8(5)
15 Utah 0
4 Tennessee3
6 Oklahoma State 1

Game times are based on the local time (CDT) in Oklahoma City

Game results

Date [9] GameWinning teamScoreLosing teamWinning pitcherLosing pitcherSaveNotes
June 1Game 1 Tennessee 10–5 Alabama Ashley Rogers (19–1)Jaala Torrence (9–3)Payton Gottshall (3) Boxscore
Game 2 Oklahoma 2–0 Stanford Jordy Bahl (19–1) NiJaree Canady (16–2) Boxscore
Game 3 Florida State 8–0 (6) Oklahoma State Kathryn Sandercock (27–3) Kelly Maxwell (16–6) Boxscore
June 2Game 4 Washington 4–1 Utah Lindsay Lopez (14–3)Mariah Lopez (23–7) Boxscore
Game 5Stanford2–0AlabamaAlana Vawter (21–8) Montana Fouts (25–11)NiJaree Canady (4)Alabama eliminated
Boxscore
Game 6Oklahoma State8–0 (5)Utah Lexi Kilfoyl (16–5)Sydney Sandez (13–6)Utah eliminated
Boxscore
June 3Game 7Oklahoma9–0 (5)TennesseeJordy Bahl (20–1) Karlyn Pickens (9–7) Boxscore
Game 8Florida State3–1WashingtonKathryn Sandercock (28–3)Ruby Meylan (18–6) Boxscore
June 4Game 9Stanford1–0WashingtonNiJaree Canady (17–2)Ruby Meylan (18–7)Washington eliminated
Boxscore
Game 10Tennessee3–1Oklahoma StateAshley Rogers (20–1)Kelly Maxwell (16–7)Oklahoma State eliminated
Boxscore
June 5Game 11Oklahoma4–2 (9)StanfordJordy Bahl (21–1)NiJaree Canady (17–3)Stanford eliminated
Boxscore
Game 12Florida State5–1TennesseeMakenna Reid (13–0)Payton Gottshall (16–2)Kathryn Sandercock (10)Tennessee eliminated
Boxscore
Finals
June 7Game 1Oklahoma5–0Florida StateJordy Bahl (22–1)Mack Leonard (2–2)Oklahoma 1–0
June 8Game 2Oklahoma3–1Florida State Alex Storako (19–0)Kathryn Sandercock (28–4)Jordy Bahl (4)Oklahoma wins WCWS

Finals

Game 1

June 7, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. (CDT) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567 R H E
Florida State0000000021
Oklahoma000311x592
WP: Jordy Bahl (22–1)   LP: Mack Leonard (2–2)
Attendance: 12,142
Boxscore

Game 2

June 8, 2023 – 6:30 p.m. CDT at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567 R H E
Oklahoma0000210381
Florida State0001000130
WP: Alex Storako (19–0)   LP: Kathryn Sandercock (28–4)   Sv: Jordy Bahl (4)
Home runs:
OKLA: Cydney Sanders, Grace Lyons
FSU: Mack Leonard
Attendance: 12,195
Boxscore

All-tournament Team

The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.

PositionPlayerSchool
P Jordy Bahl (MOP)Oklahoma
NiJaree Canady Stanford
Kathryn SandercockFlorida State
2B Tiare Jennings Oklahoma
3BZaida PuniTennessee
OFRylie BooneOklahoma
Taylor GindlespergerStanford
Kiki MilloyTennessee
Kaley MudgeFlorida State
CMichaela EdenfieldFlorida State
Kinzie Hansen Oklahoma
U Jayda Coleman Oklahoma

Record by conference

Conference# of BidsRecordWin %RFSRWSNSFNC
Big 12 420–6.769332111
ACC 618–14.56343111
Pac-12 623–14.6225431
SEC 1233–26.55910321
Mountain West 14–2.66711
Big Ten 49–8.52931
Sun Belt 25–5.50011
Conference USA 25–4.5562
Southland 13–2.6001
MAC 12–2.5001
ASUN 23–4.4291
American 22–4.333
Big South 11–2.333
Patriot 11–2.333
Summit 11–2.333
WAC 11–2.333
West Coast 11–2.333
Big West 21–4.200
America East 10–2.000
Atlantic 10 10–2.000
Big East 10–2.000
Big Sky 10–2.000
CAA 10–2.000
Horizon 10–2.000
Ivy League 10–2.000
MAAC 10–2.000
MEAC 10–2.000
Missouri Valley 10–2.000
NEC 10–2.000
Ohio Valley 10–2.000
SoCon 10–2.000
SWAC 10–2.000

Media coverage

Radio

For the third consecutive year Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of every game in the Women's College World Series. Ryan Radtke and Leah Amico returned as two of the broadcasters. Chris Plank and Destinee Martinez worked select games, while Radtke and Amico called the Championship Series while Taylor Davis worked as a field reporter. [10]

Television

ESPN held exclusive rights to the tournament. The network aired games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, Longhorn Network, and ACC Network. For just the sixth time in the history of the women's softball tournament, ESPN covered every regional. [11]

Broadcast assignments

References

  1. "Softball Division I Championship". NCAA.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. Becerra, Jenna (May 15, 2023). "2023 NCAA Softball Tournament Breakdown". softballamerica.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  3. Brown, PJ (May 18, 2023). "Arizona's streak of 35 consecutive berths in NCAA Tournament comes to an end". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  4. Zuke, Ryan (May 14, 2023). "Michigan softball misses NCAA Tournament for first time since 1994". MLive.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  5. "College softball 2023: NCAA tournament scores, schedule, watch". ESPN.com. May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  6. "2023 college softball conference tournaments: Schedules, brackets, auto-bids". NCAA.com. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. "NCAA Division I Softball Committee announces 2023 championship field". NCAA.com. May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  8. Hale, David (May 14, 2023). "Oklahoma Sooners get No. 1 overall seed in NCAA softball tournament". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  9. "2023 NCAA softball bracket: Scores, schedule, TV times for college softball championship". NCAA.com. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  10. "Cumulus Media's Westwood One Presents Exclusive Full-Court Audio Coverage of the 2023 NCAA® Men's and Women's Final Four® and National Championship Games on Multiple Platforms". globenewswire.com. March 30, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 Elchlepp, Kimberly (May 15, 2023). "#RoadtoWCWS: ESPN Platforms Present Every Pitch of the NCAA Softball Regionals". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Elchlepp, Kimberly (May 22, 2023). "#RoadtoWCWS: ESPN Platforms Present Every Pitch of the NCAA Softball Super Regionals". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Elchlepp, Kimberly (May 29, 2023). "#WCWS: ESPN Presents Comprehensive Coverage of NCAA Softball Women's College World Series". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.