Top-seeded Oklahoma didn't learn its opponent for its SEC Softball Tournament debut on Thursday until the sixth game of the tournament was completed between No. 8 LSU and No. 9 Georgia early Wednesday evening, with the Bulldogs prevailing 7-3.
It may not matter, though, because the Sooners are very familiar with both teams, having played both during the regular season. Oklahoma took two of three games on the road at LSU in late March and swept Georgia at home at Love's Field just a couple of weekends ago.
The problem is, while it is always helpful to know your opponent and its collective and individual tendencies, that advantage works both ways.
Read more: Oklahoma’s SEC Softball Tournament path doesn’t include a single gimme
What to know about Georgia
Georgia entered the SEC Tournament ranked 13th nationally and coming off of a 2-1 series win over No. 3 seed Florida last weekend. The two weekend series prior to last weekend, however, the Bulldogs were swept by Oklahoma and lost two of three to Texas.
Georgia is the third best hitting team in the SEC with an overall team batting average of .354. Senior outfielder Sarah Gordon leads the team with a .411 batting average, one of three Georgia players in the starting lineup hitting above .400. Gordon also leads the team with 16 doubles and a slugging percentage of .728. Jaydyn Goodwin is third on the team with a .405 batting average and a team-high 68 hits, but in her last 10 games, the senior outfielder and leadoff hitter is batting almost 140 points higher (.543).
Junior left-hander Randi Roelling is the primary starter for Georgia in in the circle. She owns a 16-9 record and a 3.01 ERA in 23 starts. Against OU this season, Roelling pitched a solid 6.0 innings in a 3-1 Georgia loss, giving up six hits with four strikeouts along with two free passes. Sophomore Addison Fisher has a 10-5 record and 2.84 ERA in 16 starts this season. The UCLA transfer started two of the games against Oklahoma, giving up eight runs and eight hits in 6.1 innings, striking out four but walking eight. Fisher was the losing pitcher in the Sooners' 10-2 run-rule victory in Game 1 of the series.
Georgia doesn't give away many plays on defense. The Bulldogs are one of the best defensive teams in the country this season, having committed just 25 errors for a .982 fielding percentage, sixth best in Division I softball. Three of those errors came in the series this season with Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's series sweep of Georgia this season was the first time the Bulldogs have been swept in a three-game series since Mississippi State did it in 2021.
What to know about Oklahoma
OU freshman catcher Kendall Wells is sitting on 36 home runs for the season, one shy of tying the NCAA record for home runs in a season by an individual, held by Lauren Espinoza of Arizona, who hit 37 in 1995. Meanwhile, Oklahoma and UCLA are currently tied for the most team home runs in a single season. Both have hit 173 so far this season. The old record was 161 set by Oklahoma in 2021.
The Sooners are 16-5 against ranked teams this season, the best winning percentage against ranked teams of any team in the SEC. Oklahoma won all eight of its series against SEC opponents during the regular season.
Oklahoma ranks No. 1 in the country in team batting average (.392), runs per game (10.3) and home runs (173), is No. 2 in on-base percentage (.492) and slugging percentage and No. 4 in walks taken (270) and fielding percentage (.984).
The Sooners have hit more home runs this season (173) than 42 Division I teams have in total runs. OU has 52 more home runs than its two potential quarterfinal opponents (LSU or Georgia) combined (121).
Oklahoma is 37-2 this season when it scores first and 43-3 when the Sooners out-hit their opponent.
Prediction
Oklahoma is capable of outscoring any team it faces with a lineup top-to-bottom that leads all of college softball in home runs and batting average. In SEC games only, the Sooners have outscored the next closest team (Texas) by 36 runs (175 to 139). If there is a weakness on the country's No. 1 team it is consistency from a good but not great pitching staff. OU should get by Georgia and advance to the next round, where bigger fish likely await.
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