Opening Weekend: What to Watch

---

Opening Day: Thursday, Feb. 10

• With the way everyone in Norman, Oklahoma raves about freshman pitcher Jordyn Bahl, will we see her start Thursday’s opener at UCSB? A season ago, the Sooners set the narrative for the season when they hit five home runs in the first inning of an opening 29-0 win. Offense might take center stage, with Jocelyn Alo just seven home runs from matching Lauren Chamberlain’s NCAA record, but for once, the bats won’t be the marquee attraction if Bahl gets the ball. 

• No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 21 Arizona State play the first game between ranked opponents. The Cowgirls are also the first ranked team to play a road game when they head to Tempe, Arizona. Much like their Bedlam rivals, pitching will be the main attraction if Miranda Elish gets her first start for her new team — and first start anywhere since 2020. Meanwhile, might highly-touted Arizona State freshman pitcher Mac Morgan debut on the big stage? The team’s opener against Cal Baptist earlier in the day is perhaps a more likely option.

• The battle of the “Ks” really ought to be a pitching duel. We’ll happily settle for a battle of bats between Kentucky’s Kayla Kowalik and Wisconsin’s Kayla Konwent. Thursday’s opener marks Kowalik’s first game as reigning national batting champion, and perhaps the first step in her bid for Player of the Year. But at least for a day, top billing probably goes to Konwent’s return to college softball after the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year sat out 2021. 

---

Friday, Feb. 11

• There are five games Friday between ranked opponents. But the season’s first “big game” arrives with No. 8 Arkansas against No. 7 Washington in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It’s the nightcap for both teams, and Washington, in particular, can’t look past an afternoon opener against Long Beach State. But if the coaches give us a Gabbie Plain vs. Mary Haff matchup, get the popcorn ready. This is also the first test for Washington’s highly-touted freshmen: Kinsey Fiedler, Rylee Holtorf and Olivia Johnson. And it’s a meeting between contenders replacing legendary shortstops in Sis Bates and Braxton Burnside. 

• On paper, No. 20 Kentucky against No. 24 Liberty is the least of the ranked duels. But the Flames are among the leaders in the race to replace James Madison as the outsider with aims on Oklahoma City. Reigning Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year Emily Kirby could give her team’s resume a big early boost with a win against the SEC, while former Michigan standout Lou Allan settles in at the plate with the mid-major powerhouse. 

• There’s going to be a theme this week when it comes to seeing familiar faces in new places. This is a transfer portal world. But it’s not just novelty that makes No. 9 Texas against No. 14 Clemson so intriguing. Will Mike White give the ball to returner Shea O’Leary for the first big game of the season, or will we see a sign that Fresno State transfer Hailey Dolcini is the ace in waiting for the Longhorns? Assuming Clemson doesn’t burn Valerie Cagle against Kent State earlier in the day, it will be a marquee pitching matchup however it shakes out. 

• The rest of the best: 10 more games to watch
  No. 23 Northwestern vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech
  No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 Duke
  No. 19 Georgia vs. Minnesota 
  LBSU vs. No. 7 Washington
  Minnesota vs. UCF
  UConn vs. No. 10 Missouri
  South Dakota State at Northern Iowa
  Kennesaw State at No.6 Florida State
  Southern Illinois at Troy
  Illinois at No. 17 LSU

Saturday, Feb. 12

• Did we say Washington vs. Arkansas on Friday was the first “big game” of the season? Those two teams meet again on Saturday, but we need a bigger adjective for No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 UCLA. After the Sooners eliminated the Bruins and ended Rachel Garcia’s college career in Oklahoma City, the Bruins will presumably turn to Megan Faraimo to try and shake up the landscape this season. Faraimo, of course, missed the World Series with an injury — although she did face Jocelyn Alo, Grace Lyons and Lynnsie Elam in the 2019 championship series. 

• Among many things interrupted by the Big Ten’s conference-only schedule in 2021 was the understated college softball tradition of Michigan and Florida meeting in the season’s opening weekend. Until last year, it had happened every year since 2014, when Lauren Haeger’s Gators got the best of Sierra Romero’s Wolverines. The teams are reunited this year in Tampa, Florida. Alex Storako vs. Elizabeth Hightower? Meghan Beaubien vs. Natalie Lugo? Whatever the matchup, it will be between veteran pitching staffs that ranked first (Michigan) and 13th (Florida) in ERA a season ago. 

• The tournament is the Candrea Classic, but new coach Caitlin Lowe gets her first turn in the national spotlight (at least in the former Olympian’s current role) when No. 15 Arizona hosts No. 2 Alabama. It’s the only game of the day for the Wildcats, which presumably increases the odds that Hanah Bowen gets the ball as she looks to prove she’s ready to be the ace on a team with extended postseason aspirations. But will Montana Fouts, who struck out 16 and got the best of Bowen when the teams met in last year’s World Series, upstage the home team?
  
• The rest of the best: More games to watch No. 19 Georgia vs. Minnesota, No. 10 Missouri vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech, No. 13 Duke vs. No. 21 Arizona State, Fresno State vs. No. 19 Georgia, No. 24 Liberty vs. No. 23 Northwestern, UConn vs. No. 24 Liberty, No. 12 Michigan vs. USF, South Alabama at LSU, Mississippi State vs. No. 4 UCLA, No. 2 Alabama vs. Oregon State, No. 8 Arkansas vs. LBSU, No. 9 Texas vs. FGCU, Louisville vs. Ohio State, Villanova vs. Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State at No. 6 Florida State, Iowa State vs. Nebraska, Iowa State vs. South Dakota State, Cal at Cal State Fullerton, South Dakota State vs. Northern Iowa

Sunday, Feb. 13

• We’ve glossed over No. 11 Virginia Tech to this point, but the Hokies wrap up mammoth opening weekend by playing No. 20 Kentucky. That’s on the heels of games against Missouri and Northwestern, among others. Add in two games against Alabama the following weekend, and Keely Rochard’s Hokies could go a long way toward securing a Blacksburg regional for the first time ever before we even get to March (yes, even Angela Tincher didn’t manage it). 

• The Kajikawa Classic wraps up with the weekend’s second meeting between No. 21 Arizona State and Missouri State. Picked to finish third in the always-competitive Missouri Valley, Missouri State opens the season with those games against the host Sun Devils, as well as games against Oklahoma State and Utah. That’s bold scheduling and perhaps an indication that Holly Hesse thinks her team, which returns its top four pitchers, is ready to surprise. Missouri State had three of the MVC’s top 11 players in our conference preview.

• No. 5 Florida renews another familiar opening-weekend rivalry when it faces host USF to close out its stay in Tampa. The Gators got the best of Georgina Corrick last February, turning nine singles, two walks and two hit batters into a 6-3 win. They also beat her twice in the postseason, although it took them until the bottom of the seventh to beat her 1-0 in the regional opener. USF only plays once a day this weekend, so it’s at least conceivable Corrick could face both No. 12 Michigan on Saturday and the Gators in the finale. 

• Also of note: Tulsa at No. 22 Louisiana, No. 13 Duke vs. Utah, North Carolina at South Carolina, Iowa State at Northern Iowa, UConn vs. Wisconsin, Fresno State vs. Minnesota, Nebraska vs. South Dakota State, Notre Dame at Charlotte, Illinois at No. 17 LSU

Tournament Viewing Guide

Candrea Classic

When: Feb. 11-13
Where: Mike Candrea Field at Hillenbrand Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
The field: Alabama, Arizona, Oregon State, Southern Utah, New Mexico
TV/Streaming: FloSoftball/Arizona Live Stream

Puerto Vallarta Challenge

When: Feb. 10-13
Where: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The field: Arkansas, Washington, Rutgers, Long Beach State, Memphis
TV/Streaming: FloSoftball
Full Schedule

Mark Campbell Invitational/LMU Tournament
When: Feb. 11-13
Where: Irvine, Calif./Los Angeles (Smith Field)
The field: Oklahoma, UCLA, Mississippi State, LMU, UC San Diego, Oregon, Nevada
TV/Streaming: FloSoftball

Kajikawa Classic
When: Feb. 10-13
Where: Farrington Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.)
The field: Oklahoma State, Duke, Arizona State, Cal Baptist, Missouri State,
TV/Streaming: Pac-12 Networks

USF Tournament

When: Feb. 10-13
Where: USF Softball Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
The field: Florida, Michigan, USF, Illinois State, Kansas City
TV/Streaming: ESPN+

FGCU Kickoff Classic

When: Feb. 10-13
Where: FGCU Softball Complex (Fort Myers, Fla.)
The field: Texas, Clemson, Florida Gulf Coast, Boston College, Kent State, Long Island University
TV/Streaming: N/A

Full Schedule