2022 NCAA Division I softball tournament

The 2022 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 20 through June 9, 2022, as the final part of the 2022 NCAA Division I softball season. The tournament culminated with the 2022 Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.[1][2]

2022 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site
ChampionsOklahoma (6th title)
Runner-upTexas (6th WCWS Appearance)
Winning coachPatty Gasso (6th title)
MOPJocelyn Alo (Oklahoma)
TelevisionABC
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPNU
ACCN
SECN
LHN
ESPN+

Format

A total of 64 teams entered 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 were issued at-large, with selections extended by the NCAA Selection Committee.

Bids

The Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12 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.[3]

Automatic

ConferenceSchoolBest finishLast NCAA appearance
America EastUMBCRegionals
(2002, 2019, 2021)
2021
AmericanUCFRegionals
(2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021)
2021
ACCFlorida StateNational Champion
(2018)
2021
Atlantic 10FordhamRegionals
(2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
2019
ASUNLibertyRegionals
(2002, 2011, 2018, 2021)
2021
Big 12Oklahoma StateThird Place
(1989, 1990, 1994, 1998)
2021
Big EastVillanovaRegionals
(2021)
2021
Big SkyWeber StateRegionals
(2015, 2016, 2019)
2019
Big SouthCampbellRegionals
(1995, 2008, 2009, 2021)
2021
Big TenNebraskaThird Place
(1984, 1987)
2016
Big WestCal State FullertonNational Champion
(1986)
2019
CAAUNC WilmingtonFirst appearanceFirst appearance
Conference USANorth TexasFirst appearanceFirst appearance
HorizonOaklandRegionals
(2002, 2003, 2015)
2015
Ivy LeaguePrincetonWomen's College World Series
(1995, 1996)
2017
MACMiami (OH)Regionals
(2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2021)
2021
MAACCanisiusRegionals
(1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)
2009
MEACHowardRegionals
(2007)
2007
MVCMissouri StateNational Champion
(1974)
2011
Mountain WestSan Diego StateRegionals
(2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
2015
NortheastSaint Francis (PA)Regionals
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
2021
OVCMurray StateFirst appearanceFirst appearance
Pac-12Arizona StateNational Champion
(1972, 1973, 2008, 2011)
2019
PatriotLehighRegionals
(2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017)
2017
SECArkansasSuper Regionals
(2018, 2021)
2021
SoConChattanoogaRegionals
(2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2019)
2019
SouthlandMcNeese StateRegionals
(1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
2021
SWACPrairie View A&MRegionals
(2018)
2018
Summit LeagueSouth Dakota StateRegionals
(2021)
2021
Sun BeltLouisianaThird Place
(1993)
2021
WACGrand CanyonFirst appearanceFirst appearance
WCCLoyola MarymountRegionals
(2005, 2007)
2007

At-large

TeamConference
AlabamaSEC
ArizonaPac-12
AuburnSEC
ClemsonACC
DukeACC
FloridaSEC
GeorgiaSEC
Georgia TechACC
IllinoisBig Ten
KentuckySEC
LSUSEC
MichiganBig Ten
MinnesotaBig Ten
Mississippi StateSEC
MissouriSEC
NorthwesternBig Ten
Notre DameACC
Ohio StateBig Ten
OklahomaBig 12
Ole MissSEC
OregonPac-12
Oregon StatePac-12
South FloridaAmerican
StanfordPac-12
TennesseeSEC
TexasBig 12
Texas A&MSEC
UCLAPac-12
Virginia TechACC
WashingtonPac-12
Wichita StateAmerican
WisconsinBig Ten

By conference

ConferenceTotalSchools
SEC12Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M
Big Ten7Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Pac-127Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, Washington
ACC6Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech
American3South Florida, UCF, Wichita State
Big 123Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas
ASUN1Liberty
America East1UMBC
Atlantic 101Fordham
Big East1Villanova
Big Sky1Weber State
Big South1Campbell
Big West1Cal State Fullerton
Colonial1UNC Wilmington
Conference USA1North Texas
Horizon1Oakland
Ivy League1Princeton
MAAC1Canisius
Mid-American1Miami (OH)
Mid-Eastern1Howard
Missouri Valley1Missouri State
Mountain West1San Diego State
Northeast1Saint Francis (PA)
Ohio Valley1Murray State
Patriot1Lehigh
SoCon1Chattanooga
Southland1McNeese State
Southwestern1Prairie View A&M
Summit1South Dakota State
Sun Belt1Louisiana
WAC1Grand Canyon
West Coast1Loyola Marymount

National seeds

16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show, on Sunday, May 15 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.[4]

Regionals and Super Regionals

The Regionals took place May 20–22. The Super Regionals took place May 26–29.

Norman Super Regional

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
1Oklahoma14(5)
Prairie View A&M0
1Oklahoma3
Texas A&M2
Minnesota1
Texas A&M5
1Oklahoma20(5)
Norman Regional – OU Softball Complex
Texas A&M0
Prairie View A&M1
Minnesota13(5)
Texas A&M10
Minnesota7
1Oklahoma8(5)7
16UCF01
16UCF6
Villanova0
16UCF3(11)
Michigan2
South Dakota State1
Michigan2
16UCF9
Orlando Regional – UCF Softball Complex
Michigan4
Villanova4
South Dakota State5(9)
Michigan4
South Dakota State1

Tempe Super Regional

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
8Arizona State5
Cal State Fullerton2
8Arizona State11
San Diego State8
San Diego State10
LSU5
8Arizona State8
Tempe Regional – Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium
San Diego State4
Cal State Fullerton3
LSU2
San Diego State8
Cal State Fullerton5
8Arizona State37(8)6
9Northwestern4(11)48
9Northwestern9
Oakland2
9Northwestern17(5)
McNeese State3
McNeese State11(5)
Notre Dame1
9Northwestern10(5)
Evanston Regional – Sharon J. Drysdale Field
McNeese State2
Notre Dame16(5)
Oakland1
McNeese State3
Notre Dame1

Los Angeles Super Regional

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
5UCLA12(5)
Grand Canyon1
5UCLA7
Loyola Marymount1
Loyola Marymount4
Ole Miss2
5UCLA9(5)
Los Angeles Regional – Easton Stadium
Ole Miss1
Grand Canyon5
Ole Miss9
Loyola Marymount2
Ole Miss4
5UCLA38
12Duke22
12Duke4
UMBC0
12Duke5
Liberty0
Liberty2
Georgia0
12Duke313(6)
Durham Regional – Duke Softball Stadium
Georgia55
UMBC3
Georgia6
Liberty2
Georgia7

Fayetteville Super Regional

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
4Arkansas11(5)
Princeton0
4Arkansas6
Oregon2
Wichita State2
Oregon10(5)
4Arkansas9
Fayetteville Regional – Bogle Park
Oregon3
Princeton4
Wichita State5
Oregon8
Wichita State1
4Arkansas710
Texas133
13Washington9
Lehigh2
13Washington2
Texas8
Weber State0
Texas6
Texas13
Seattle Regional – Husky Softball Stadium
13Washington22
Lehigh5
Weber State4
13Washington6
Lehigh1

Blacksburg Super Regional

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
3Virginia Tech4
Saint Francis (PA)0
3Virginia Tech4
Kentucky5
Miami (OH)1
Kentucky15
Kentucky24
Blacksburg Regional – Tech Softball Park
3Virginia Tech95
Miami (OH)4
Saint Francis (PA)0
3Virginia Tech5
Miami (OH)4
3Virginia Tech620
14Florida0712
14Florida10(5)
Canisius1
14Florida7
Georgia Tech1
Wisconsin1
Georgia Tech2
14Florida11(5)
Gainesville Regional – Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium
Wisconsin0
Canisius0
Wisconsin3
Georgia Tech6
Wisconsin7

Stanford Super Regional

Played at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium in Stanford, California

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
6Alabama3
Chattanooga0
6Alabama0
Stanford6
Murray State1
Stanford3
Stanford06
Tuscaloosa Regional – Rhoads Stadium
6Alabama40
Chattanooga1(8)
Murray State0
6Alabama6
Chattanooga2
Stanford10
Oregon State32
11Tennessee9(6)
Campbell1
11Tennessee3
Oregon State0
Oregon State4
Ohio State3
11Tennessee31
Knoxville Regional – Sherri Parker Lee Stadium
Oregon State83
Campbell0
Ohio State10(6)
Oregon State5
Ohio State1

Stillwater Super Regional

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
7Oklahoma State12(5)
Fordham0
7Oklahoma State7
Nebraska4
North Texas0
Nebraska3
7Oklahoma State2
Stillwater Regional – Cowgirl Stadium
North Texas0
Fordham3
North Texas5
Nebraska0
North Texas3
7Oklahoma State25
10Clemson01
10Clemson9(5)
UNC Wilmington0
10Clemson1
Auburn0
Louisiana3
Auburn4
10Clemson8
Clemson Regional – McWhorter Stadium
Louisiana0
UNC Wilmington1
Louisiana3(11)
Auburn3
Louisiana4

Starkville Super Regional

Played at Nusz Park in Starkville, Mississippi

Round 1Round 2Regional FinalsSuper Regionals
               
2Florida State8(5)
Howard0
2Florida State8(5)
South Florida0
South Florida4
Mississippi State0
2Florida State03
Tallahassee Regional – JoAnne Graf Field
Mississippi State54
Howard3
Mississippi State6
South Florida0
Mississippi State6
Mississippi State21
Arizona3(8)7
15Missouri3
Missouri State1
15Missouri0
Arizona2
Arizona8
Illinois3
Arizona1
Columbia Regional – Mizzou Softball Stadium
15Missouri0
Missouri State2
Illinois0
15Missouri2
Missouri State0

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held June 2 through June 9 in Oklahoma City.

Participants

SchoolConferenceRecord (conference)Head coachWCWS appearances†
(including 2022 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†*WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2022 WCWS)
ArizonaPac-1238–20 (8–16)Caitlin Lowe25
(last: 2021)
1st
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1996
1997, 2001, 2006, 2007)
62–36
FloridaSEC48–17 (13–11)Tim Walton11
(last: 2019)
1st
(2014, 2015)
26–18
NorthwesternBig Ten45–11 (19–4)Kate Drohan6
(last: 2007)
2nd
(2006)
14–11
OklahomaBig 1257–3 (17–1)Patty Gasso15
(last: 2021)
1st
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021)
38–22
Oklahoma StateBig 1246–12 (14–4)Kenny Gajewski10
(last: 2021)
3rd
(1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2022)
13–18
Oregon StatePac-1239–20 (9–15)Laura Berg2
(last: 2006)
8th
(2006)
0–2
TexasBig 1243–19–1 (12–6)Mike White6
(last: 2013)
3rd
(2003, 2005, 2013)
7–10
UCLAPac-1248–8 (19–5)Kelly Inouye-Perez31
(last: 2021)
1st
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990,
1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019)
104–38

Bracket

First roundSecond roundSemifinalsFinals
               
1Oklahoma13(5)
9Northwestern2
1Oklahoma7
Texas2
5UCLA2
Texas7
1Oklahoma315(5)
5UCLA70
9Northwestern1
5UCLA6
14Florida0
5UCLA8(6)
1Oklahoma1610
Texas15
14Florida7
Oregon State1
14Florida0
7Oklahoma State2
7Oklahoma State4
Arizona2
7Oklahoma State05
Texas56
Oregon State1
Arizona3
Texas5
Arizona2

Game results

Date[5]GameWinning teamScoreLosing teamWinning pitcherLosing pitcherSaveNotes
June 2Game 1Texas7–2UCLAHailey Dolcini (23–10)Megan Faraimo (22–5)
Game 2Oklahoma13–2 (5)NorthwesternHope Trautwein (19–1)Danielle Williams (31–5)
Game 3Florida7–1Oregon StateNatalie Lugo (12–5)Sarah Haendiges (13–7)
Game 4Oklahoma State4–2ArizonaKelly Maxwell (19–4)Hanah Bowen (13–11)
June 3Game 5UCLA6–1NorthwesternMegan Faraimo (23–5)Danielle Williams (31–6)Northwestern eliminated
Game 6Arizona3–1Oregon StateHanah Bowen (14–11)Mariah Mazon (17–12)Oregon State eliminated
June 4Game 7Oklahoma7–2TexasHope Trautwein (20–1)Hailey Dolcini (23–11)
Game 8Oklahoma State2–0FloridaKelly Maxwell (20–4)Lexie Delbrey (15–4)
June 5Game 9UCLA8–0 (6)FloridaHolly Azevedo (21–2)Elizabeth Hightower (17–9)Florida eliminated
Game 10Texas5–2ArizonaEstelle Czech (12–1)Hanah Bowen (14–12)Arizona eliminated
June 6Game 11UCLA7–3OklahomaMegan Faraimo (24–5)Nicole May (15–1)Holly Azevedo (2)
Game 12Oklahoma15–0 (5)UCLAHope Trautwein (21–1)Holly Azevedo (21–3)UCLA eliminated
Game 13Texas5–0Oklahoma StateEstelle Czech (13–1)Morgan Day (13–5)
Game 14Texas6–5Oklahoma StateHailey Dolcini (24–11)Kelly Maxwell (20–5)Oklahoma State eliminated
Texas: First unseeded team in WCWS history to advance to the finals[6]
Finals
June 8Game 1Oklahoma16–1TexasHope Trautwein (22–1)Hailey Dolcini (24–12)Oklahoma 1–0
June 9Game 2Oklahoma10–5TexasJordy Bahl (22–1)Estelle Czech (13–2)Oklahoma wins WCWS

Finals

June 8, 2022 – 7:30 p.m. (CDT) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567RHE
Texas1000000134
Oklahoma514222x16161
WP: Hope Trautwein (22–1)   LP: Hailey Dolcini (24–12)
Home runs:
TEX: None
OKLA: Jocelyn Alo, Tiare Jennings, Taylon Snow, Jana Johns
Attendance: 12,234
Boxscore
June 9, 2022 – 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567RHE
Oklahoma000244010130
Texas2000003562
WP: Jordy Bahl (22–1)   LP: Estelle Czech (13–2)
Home runs:
OKLA: Grace Turk, Kinzie Hansen
TEX: Mia Scott
Attendance: 12,257
Boxscore

All-tournament Team

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

PositionPlayerSchool
PEstelle CzechTexas
Megan FaraimoUCLA
Kelly MaxwellOklahoma State
Hope TrautweinOklahoma
1BCourtney DayTexas
2BTiare JenningsOklahoma
OFRylie BooneOklahoma
Bella DaytonTexas
CDelanie WiszUCLA
UJocelyn Alo (MOP)Oklahoma
Maya BradyUCLA
Jayda ColemanOklahoma

Record by conference

Conference# of BidsRecordWin %RFSRWSNSFNC
Big 12326–8.765333321
Pac-12732–16.6677531
SEC1231–26.5441031
Big Ten711–13.458311
ACC611–13.45843
American35–6.45511
Conference USA12–2.5001
Mountain West12–2.5001
Sun Belt12–2.5001
Southland12–2.5001
ASUN11–2.333
Big West11–2.333
MAC11–2.333
Missouri Valley11–2.333
Patriot11–2.333
Southern11–2.333
Summit11–2.333
West Coast11–2.333
America East10–2.000
Atlantic 1010–2.000
Big East10–2.000
Big Sky10–2.000
Big South10–2.000
Colonial10–2.000
Horizon10–2.000
Ivy League10–2.000
Metro Atlantic10–2.000
Mid-Eastern10–2.000
Northeast10–2.000
Ohio Valley10–2.000
SWAC10–2.000
WAC10–2.000

Media coverage

Radio

For the second 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.[7]

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 fifth time in the history of the women's softball tournament, ESPN covered every regional.[8]

Broadcast assignments

References