NCAA DI Playoffs: Sunday Regional Playoff Wrap Up… 16 Teams Now Set for Super Regionals!

Below are highlights of the final day of action at the NCAA DI Regional Playoffs… and it was a LOOOOOONG day as the final game didn’t end until 2:15 am EST!

Click HERE to view the interactive bracket produced by NCAA.com.

Regionals Wrap Up – Who Won on Championship Sunday (May 23, 2021)wa

Left Side of Bracket

Norman: Oklahoma advances after beating Wichita St 24-7

After leading by a touchdown midway through the game, 14-7, top-seeded Oklahoma added another TD and field goal for the final score of 24-7. No, we’re not talking football, but the Sooner offense is as explosive in putting up points as any high-powered running or passing attack you’ll find on the gridiron. Ten different OU batters got hits with eight of them getting multiple hits as part of a 20-hit attack. Leading the way was National Freshman of the Year candidate Tiare Jennings who went 2-for-5 with six RBIs; Grace Lyons who went 3-for-6 including two home runs with five RBIs and Rylie Boone who went 1-for-1 but that one was a grand slam.  The offensive outburst was a record-setter in what’s already a storied OU career (see tweet below):

📊 Put up some 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 📊 pic.twitter.com/qoSI5bHMd0

— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) May 24, 2021

Seattle: Washington advances with 2-0, 10-5 wins over Michigan

#16 seed Washington had to win two games on Sunday to advance and the host team did just that in Game 1 as the Pac-12 power beat Michigan 2-0 behind a Morganne Flores solo home run and an RBI double by Jadelyn Allchin to lead the defense while pitcher Gabbie Plain was on her game as she gave up just two hits over seven innings while striking out eight in the shutout victory. Game 2, didn’t look good early on for the host Huskies who trailed 5-1 in the 2^nd inning but the powerful Washington offense kept hammering away and, thanks to multi-hit games by Kelley Lynch (3 RBIs), Sis Bates and Baylee Klinger and a home run by Jadelyn Allchin, the UW offense helped overcome the early deficit to win 10-5. Plain won game #32 after beating Michigan twice and in the second win had nine more K’s.

12 batters come to the plate and the Dawgs take the lead.#MightyAreTheWomen pic.twitter.com/qYciHxVAKi

— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) May 24, 2021

Knoxville: James Madison advances with 8-5 win over Liberty

Pitcher Odicci Alexander wasn’t as dominating as she has been earlier this weekend, including one game where she set a school record with 19 K’s, but her 5.1 innings with four earned runs allowed and six K’s along the aid of fellow pitcher Alissa Humphrey, who got the win by pitching 1.2 innings and giving up just one earned run in the 8-5 win, helped JMU move on. It was a collective effort on offense as nine players for James Madison got hits and six got RBIs.

THE DUKES HAVE DONE IT!@JMUSoftball wins the Knoxville Regional with an 8-5 victory over Liberty and punches its ticket to Supers for the second consecutive time!#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/HLdfFxTJ7s

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 23, 2021

Columbia: Missouri advances with a 5-0 shutout of Iowa State

Mizzou, the #8 seed, benefited from a beautiful and well-timed pitching masterfiece from Jordan “Jo” Weber who threw a no-hitter and only allowed two walks while striking out seven in the big win for the Tigers. Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Brooke Wilmes sparked Missouri as she went 2-for-3 with a home, her 11^th of the season, and knocked in two runs while also getting on base via a walk.

NO NO FOR JO! The 40th no-hitter in program history sends Mizzou to the Supers!#OwnIt🐯🥎 pic.twitter.com/nIinFoeVeT

— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) May 23, 2021

Stillwater: Oklahoma State advances with 10-2 defeat of Mississippi State

#5 seed Oklahoma State moved on with a convincing victory over Mississippi State highlighted by Haylee Busbee’s grand slam in the fourth inning, her 18^th home of the year. Sydney Pennington also had a momentous day as she homered in the third inning which was her 12^th of the year and her 36^th in her career, setting an all-time career mark for the Big 12 school.

A lil ✨bat flip moment✨ for the grand slam! @HayleyBusby54#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 @CowgirlSB pic.twitter.com/qD6MXqhAMM

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 23, 2021

Austin: Texas advance after Ducks win 3-2 in 8 innings in Game 1, but Longhorns take Game 2 1-0

The highly anticipated matchup between Texas and Oregon didn’t disappoint and the tension was added thanks to a 5 ½ hour rain delay. The game was tight all night long and was tied 2-2 at the end of 7 innings before Oregon pulled it out in the bottom of the 8^th. Haley Cruse doubled down the right field line and after a walk Terra McGowan hit a ball to the warning track over the rightfielder’s head for the winning run. In Game 2, Molly Jacobsen pitched an amazing shutout, giving up five hits in seven innings in the 1-0 win, but it didn’t come easily as Oregon put runners on first and third with no outs in the top of the 7th, but Jacobsen got a strikeout and two infield groundouts to close it out.

WE’RE FEELING SUPER!!! Texas beats Oregon, 1-0!! 🤘🤘🤘 pic.twitter.com/f6nwFPfS2R

— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) May 24, 2021

 

Athens: Georgia advances with 10-9 win over Duke

In one of the craziest games of the day, Georgia pulled out a thrilling 10-9 win over #13 seeded Duke in a see-saw affair that saw Duke break out to a 7-4 lead in the fourth on a two-out, three-run bases clearing double by Gisele Tapia. The Dawgs however kept chipping away and scored three in the bottom of the 5^th and went ahead for good on an RBI single by outfielder Sydney Chambley, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Mary Wilson Avant got the win, pitching the last two innings and not giving up a hit.

It was quite a day for Sydney Chambley and @ugasoftball, which beat No. 13 Duke, 10-9, to win the Athens Regional: https://t.co/35OvNuFzEr. #GoDawgs

— John Frierson (@FriersonFiles) May 23, 2021

Gainesville: Florida advances with an 8-0 victory over South Florida

Everything was clicking for the Gators as Elizabeth Hightower pitched a no-hitter while striking out 10 and walking just three to help UF move on to the Super Regionals. Sshortstop Sarah Longley went 2-for-2 with a grand slam and four RBIs and catcher Julia Cottrill homered and doubled while also plating two to spark the SEC school’s offense.

🐊 WE'RE HEADED TO THE SUPER REGIONALS 🐊

Presented by @WellsFargo | #GoGators #RoadtoWCWS pic.twitter.com/Bcr8YQQUfz

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) May 23, 2021

 

Right Side of Bracket

Tuscaloosa: Alabama advances with 5-0 blanking of Clemson

#3 seeded Alabama was too much for the Tigers to handle, though Clemson (and Duke) have to feel proud making it to the playoffs for the first time in the young ACC schools’ history. Crimson Tide pitcher Montana Fouts was on fire once again and is proving to be one of the top players in these 2021 NCAA DI playoffs. She gave up just three hits in the big win while striking out 12 and walking only two. Shortstop Taylor Clark had the big blow on Sunday, a three-run homer.

Historic Tide 🐘

Alabama is 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 team to advance to every Super Regional in #NCAASoftball history.#RoadToWCWS x 📸 @AlabamaSB pic.twitter.com/pby8lRGHW8

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 23, 2021

Lexington: Kentucky advances with two wins over Notre Dame, 7-0 & 4-0

#14 seed Kentucky had to win two to advance and everything clicked for the Wildcats. The SEC team cruised through the first game, winning 7-0 behind the pitching of Autumn Humes, who threw a gem, going all seven innings and scattering three hits while walking none. Outfielder Tatum Spangler homered and drove in two Wildcats on a 2-for-3 performance and Renee Abernathy went 2-for-4 with a home run, her 11^th of the year, and two runs knocked in also. In the deciding game, the Cats pitching tossed another shutout as Humes started but only faced three batters, giving up two hits. However, Grace Baalman came in and was nearly touchable, giving up just one hit the rest of the game (6.1 innings) with two K’s and just 1 walks of the 22 Irish batters she faced. Autumn, however, did help with her bat as she went 2-for-2 with a home run, her sixth of the year. Third baseman Miranda Stoddard had a big day as well, hitting a key single down the left field line in the bottom of the 4^th inning that drove in two.

This duo today vs. Notre Dame:

0⃣.0⃣0⃣ ERA
0⃣ runs allowed
1⃣4⃣ innings pitched
6⃣ hits
1⃣ walk
1⃣3⃣4⃣ pitches @gbaalman25 | @autumn_e6humes #WeAreUK | #RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/7q34KX3hwz

— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 23, 2021

Tucson: Arizona advances with 12-6 victory against Ole Miss

The #11-seeded Wildcats trailed at one point 6-0 in the game versus the Rebels, but blew it open with eight runs in the 5th as Mike Candrea’s team moves on to play next week. All-American SS Jessie Harper had three hits and three RBIs while catcher Dejah Mulipola and 1B Carlie Scupin also had three hits in the prolific offensive attack that saw Arizona get 19 hits and pitcher Mariah Lopez came in shut the door for the cats

Arizona climbs out of 6-0 hole, takes down Ole Miss, 12-6 to advance to seventh straight super regional

📊 https://t.co/kqYzv427Yy

— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) May 24, 2021

Fayetteville: Arkansas advances with 7-3 defeat of Stanford

#6 seed Arkansas used the long ball to top Stanford as shortstop Braxton Burnside hit a two-run shot just two batters into the game and with a 4-3 lead in the top of the 5^th, DP Linnie Malkin hit a three run homer to effectively put the game out of reach for the Hogs. Pitcher Mary Haff got the win, coming in the 2^nd inning to scatter five hits but give up no runs for her SEC team.

3-0 at the Fayetteville Regional ✅#WPS🐗 pic.twitter.com/XP0UyGbOfN

— Arkansas Razorback Softball (@RazorbackSB) May 24, 2021

Baton Rouge: LSU advances after beating Louisiana 8-5 in Game 2 after losing Game 1 2-0.

Louisiana had to beat #7 seeded LSU twice in an awesome Battle of the Bayou State and in Game 1 Ragin’ Cajun pitcher Kandra Lamb came up huge as she gave up just three hits over seven innings while striking out five in the 2-0 shutout. Second baseman Jade Gortarez gave Lamb all the offense she’d need as she hit a two RBI double with one out in the bottom of the 3^rd inning to push both teams to a Game 2. In the deciding contest, LSU saw 1B/PH Georgia Clark come up huge as she went 2-for-2 with five RBIs: a two-run single in the 1^st inning and a three-run homer in the bottom of the 5^th.

Six straight Super Regionals for @LSUsoftball 😤 pic.twitter.com/bbdLYpxnsX

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) May 23, 2021

 

Tallahassee: Florida State advances with 2-0 win over Central Florida

The #10 seeded Seminoles only had six hits and a pair of RBIs courtesy of second baseman Devyn Flaherty and centerfielder Dani Morgan—both in the bottom of the 4^th inning to break the scoreless tie—but that was all pitcher Kathryn Sandercock would need as she gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out eight to propel Florida State to the Super Regionals.

.@k_sandercock's one-hitter sends the Noles to a Super Regional for the eighth straight season! #OneTribehttps://t.co/v9MiWHVW8B

— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) May 23, 2021

 

Tempe: Virginia Tech advances (on games played Saturday)

All the feels 🤧

Lex sends us to Super Regionals! #ThisIsHome | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/NhberECeHT

— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) May 23, 2021

Los Angeles: UCLA advances after beating Minnesota 2-1

The #2 seed UCLA has the luxury of having Rachel Garcia, one of the greatest college players EVER and she got it done for the Bruins on Sunday to help UCLA advance into the Super Regionals. Garcia came in as a reliever for the final 5.1 innings and gave up just one hit with no walks while striking out five; at the plate, Rachel went 2-for-3 and scored a run. The Gophers had a strong performance of its own by pitcher Autumn Pease who gave up two earned runs on seven hits with seven K’s. Kinsley Washington, the hero of the 2019 Women’s College World Series when UCLA beat Oklahoma, knocked in both of UCLA’s runs.

BRUINS WIN!!!!

SUPER REGIONAL BOUND!!!!

Kinsley Washington's two-out, two-run single in the top of the fourth holds up. Rachel Garcia strikes out five in 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/aL8ebc7awy

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 24, 2021