Big 12 Softball Preview: Red River Series Looms Large
The second weekend of conference play in Big 12 softball is upon us, and a top-ten matchup between two of the sport’s best teams will be on display in Norman.
The top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners will play host to No. 8 Texas in one of the top conference matchups of the season. Texas Tech and Iowa State will faceoff in Lubbock after being swept by the Sooners and Longhorns, respectively, while the conference’s other top-ten team, No. 2 Oklahoma State, is off this weekend and will head to San Antonio to take on Incarnate Word in a two-game series.
No. 22 Baylor will look to turn things around this weekend after getting swept by the Cowgirls and will host Kansas at Getterman Stadium.
Here’s a quick look at all of this weekend’s matchups and how I see them playing out.
#8 Texas (30-5-1, 3-0) at #1 Oklahoma (30-1, 3-0)
In a rematch of last year’s WCWS championship series, the Texas Longhorns will take a seven-game winning streak into Norman, where they will attempt to dethrone the top-ranked Sooners. Oklahoma, a winner of 22 straight games, has looked like the most dominant force in softball yet again this season, behind an absurd offense and dominant pitching staff. Texas will be a tough out for Oklahoma though, as the Longhorns rank fourth nationally in batting average (.351) and 18th in ERA (1.89). The Sooners rank first nationally in batting (.391) and fourth in ERA (1.00), so on paper, this is a matchup of giants. With an impressive home crowd behind them, give me Oklahoma to take the series, but don’t be surprised if Texas avoids the sweep.
Note: Game 1 on Friday will be played in Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
| GAME | DATE | TIME | LOCATION | NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #8 Texas at #1 Oklahoma | Mar 31 (Fri) | 6:00 PM CT | Oklahoma City, OK | ESPN+ |
| #8 Texas at #1 Oklahoma | Apr 1 (Sat) | 11:00 AM CT | Norman, OK | ESPN+ |
| #8 Texas at #1 Oklahoma | Apr 2 (Sun) | 11:00 AM CT | Norman, OK | ESPN+ |
PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA WINS SERIES, 3-0
Iowa State (11-17, 0-3) at Texas Tech (26-11, 0-3)
The Iowa State Cyclones were dominated by the Sooners at home last weekend, but Texas Tech showed some promise against the Longhorns. The Red Raiders were actually able to build a lead against the Longhorns in two of the three games last weekend before squandering them. The offense in Lubbock has been tremendous, ranking 13th in batting average (.330), 4th in slugging (.603), 5th in home runs per game (1.62), and 22nd in on-base percentage (.404). Texas Tech should win this series, and I think they’ll get the sweep too.
| GAME | DATE | TIME | LOCATION | NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State at Texas Tech | Mar 31 (Fri) | 6:00 PM CT | Lubbock, TX | ESPN+ |
| Iowa State at Texas Tech | Apr 1 (Sat) | 1:00 PM CT | Lubbock, TX | ESPN+ |
| Iowa State at Texas Tech | Apr 2 (Sun) | 12:00 PM CT | Lubbock, TX | ESPN+ |
PREDICTION: TEXAS TECH WINS SERIES, 3-0
Kansas (18-12, 0-0) at #22 Baylor (25-8, 0-3)
Kansas was idle in the first weekend of Big 12 play, while Baylor took the toughest road test of its season to Stillwater and came back with an 0-3 conference record. Oklahoma State proved to be too much in the circle for the Bears, outscoring them 16-6 over the course of the weekend. Baylor is led by Dari Orme in the circle, and with her starting, they are 10-3 on the year. Kansas isn’t on the same spectrum as Oklahoma State, and I think Baylor will play well back in the confines of Getterman Stadium. Give me Baylor to sweep the Jayhawks, and get back to .500 in conference play.
| GAME | DATE | TIME | LOCATION | NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas at #22 Baylor | Mar 31 (Fri) | 6:30 PM CT | Waco, TX | ESPN+ |
| Kansas at #22 Baylor | Apr 1 (Sat) | 2:00 PM CT | Waco, TX | ESPN+ |
| Kansas at #22 Baylor | Apr 2 (Sun) | 12:00 PM CT | Waco, TX | ESPN+ |
PREDICTION: BAYLOR WINS SERIES, 3-0
#2 Oklahoma State (30-2, 3-0)
Oklahoma State started its “bye week” off a little shaky with a 3-1 (9 inn.) victory over Tulsa on Wednesday night, but a win is a win. A doubleheader with Incarnate Word on Saturday and a road trip to Wichita State are on the docket before getting back to Big 12 play next weekend against Kansas.
| GAME | DATE | TIME | LOCATION | NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Apr 1 (Sat) | 11:00 PM CT | San Antonio, TX | ESPN+ |
| Incarnate Word | Apr 1 (Sat) | 1:30 PM CT | San Antonio, TX | ESPN+ |
| Wichita State | Apr 4 (Tue) | 6:00 PM CT | Wichita, KS | N/A |
