Which teams are moving on in NCAA softball tournament? Highlights, key players from regionals (2024)

The Columbia Regional of the NCAA softball tournament ended just how it started: an extra-inning showdown between Omaha and seventh-seeded Missouri.

The Tigers were stunned in their regional opener against the Mavericks, who were making their second postseason appearance in program history. Tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning, Omaha’s Ava Rongisch hit a two-run homer that put her team up 3-1. The Mavericks retired three straight Missouri batters in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Missouri responded on Saturday, beating Indiana 5-1 and Washington 4-1 to set up a regional final doubleheader with Omaha on Sunday. The Tigers took the first game 5-1 but were caught in a scoreless showdown in the winner-takes-all finale.

Pinch hitter Madison Walker broke the tie with a walk-off RBI single to center field in the ninth inning to give Missouri the 1-0 win. Right-handed pitcher Laurin Krings came through in the clutch, tossing a complete game with 15 strikeouts to advance her team in the tournament.

Can't stop watching this moment 🔁 Madison Walker walk-off for Mizzou!#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN+ / @MizzouSoftball pic.twitter.com/xAsiHa4Ffh

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 20, 2024

Here are the other teams moving on to the Super Regional round of the NCAA softball tournament, with highlights and key players for each remaining contender:

Austin — No. 1 Texas

The top-seeded Longhorns cruised through regionals unscathed. Texas beat Siena 5-0 on Friday before outscoring Northwestern 21-2 over two games.

Bryan-College Station — No. 16 Texas A&M

In the regional final against Texas State, LHP Emiley Kennedy recorded her 10th shutout to become the first Aggie with double-digit shutouts in one season since 2011 (Mel Dumezich registered 12).

Texas A&M beat the Bobcats 8-0 in five innings to advance.

Baton Rouge — No. 9 LSU

The Tigers allowed just one run across their three regional wins. Southern Illinois scored on an RBI single from Elizabeth Warwick on Saturday, but LSU held the Salukis scoreless in the next day’s regional final.

Karli Petty nailed a home run off the scoreboard to put LSU on top 9-0 in the bottom of the third inning on Sunday.

Literally broke the scoreboard 😱#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN+ / @LSUsoftball pic.twitter.com/LIhapAkN23

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 19, 2024

Stanford — No. 8 Stanford

The Cardinal needed their star pitcher NiJaree Canady to dig them out of a hole to advance to Supers. Stanford beat Saint Mary’s (8-6) and Mississippi State (2-1) to set up a regional final with Cal State Fullerton on Sunday. But the Titans handled Stanford in the first game, winning 8-1 and forcing a deciding game.

Stanford saved Canady for the finale, which proved successful. Canady pitched all seven innings and had 13 strikeouts, including three in a row in the seventh inning to seal a 4-2 victory.

Of course it ends on a @CanadyNijaree strikeout.#GoStanford x #RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/omT9ECtVIU

— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 20, 2024

See Also

OU softball vs Oregon recap: Sooners edge Ducks to reach 14th straight NCAA super regionalAfter 'bittersweet' OU-Oregon regional, Melyssa Lombardi rooting for Sooners softball to four-peat as championsRoad to the 2024 WCWS: No. 1 Texas evens out series, No. 14 Alabama wins 14-inning thriller

Stillwater — No. 5 Oklahoma State

Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl tossed her second complete game of the weekend in a 4-1 regional final win against Michigan for the Cowgirls. At one point, the right-hander retired 17 straight batters after retiring 19 straight the day before in a 6-2 win against Kentucky.

The moment was not too big for freshman Karli Godwin, who slammed a two-run home run in the fifth inning.

Pretty sure that ball landed on the OTHER side of McElroy 😳

Karli Godwin, take a bow 👑

📺 ESPN

🔗 https://t.co/lxOekwPkkO#GoPokes | @karligodwin2 https://t.co/z6s4PuCS85 pic.twitter.com/dRejsLuzdv

— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) May 19, 2024

Fayetteville — Arizona

It was a tough weekend for 12th-seeded Arkansas, which did not advance to the regional final after losses to Arizona (2-1) and Villanova (7-2) cut the regional hosts from the bracket.

The Wildcats vs. Wildcats regional final ended in favor of Arizona, 9-4. Arizona was hot at the plate, hitting four home runs, including two by Dakota Kennedy.

𝐃𝐀𝐊𝐎𝐓𝐀 𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 #𝟐 😮‍💨

Kota blasts her second homer of the day to extend our lead!

📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/xvsZlZBNw6

— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) May 19, 2024

Lafayette — Baylor

After being shutout 13-0 in the first game of championship Sunday against host Louisiana, Baylor strung together every clutch play it needed to advance to Supers in a winner-takes-all final against the Ragin Cajuns.

The Bears jumped to a 4-3 lead after scoring two runs in the fifth inning. Baylor held Louisiana scoreless the rest of the way, backed by a perfect throw from center fielder Taylor Strain to get an out at home plate in the sixth inning.

beautiful!!!!#SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/aUW3sREdYZ

— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) May 19, 2024

Gainesville — No. 4 Florida

The Gators recorded two five-inning 9-1 wins against South Alabama to advance out of their regional. Florida crafted a seven-run third inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Regan Walsh that scored Skylar Wallace. It marked Wallace’s 302nd career run, tying the Division I record.

🚨 NCAA RECORD TIED 🚨

On this play, @Wallace2Skylar scored her 302nd career run, which ties Sierra Romero's DI record.#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN+ / @GatorsSB pic.twitter.com/c0WKvbEp1x

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 19, 2024

Knoxville — No. 3 Tennessee

The story of the Lady Vols this season often centered on their elite pitching, and that was no different in the regional round. Tennessee shut out every opponent — Dayton (3-0), Virginia (12-0), Virginia (6-0) — to advance to Supers. Karlyn Pickens tossed complete games on Friday and Sunday while Payton Gottshall threw a lights-out game against Virginia on Saturday.

Tuscaloosa — No. 14 Alabama

Southeastern Louisiana was the Cinderella of this regional. Making their first NCAA Tournament appearance, the Lady Lions advanced to the regional final after beating Clemson twice.

First #NCAASoftball Tournament appearance ✅
First tourney win ✅@LionUpSoftball made a statement in its debut with a 6-2 win against Clemson.#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ACCNpic.twitter.com/0ND4e5UgbT

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 17, 2024

But the Crimson Tide were electric at the plate in Sunday’s regional final, scoring nine runs in the first inning and three in the third to win 12-2 by the run rule in the fifth inning. Sophom*ore Kristen White set the tone at the top of the order, recording career highs in hits (three) and runs (three).

Athens — No. 11 Georgia

It was a weekend of comebacks for the Georgia Bulldogs. The 11th-seeded team forced a Sunday doubleheader by beating Liberty 14-5 after falling to the Flames on Saturday, 7-3. Liberty struck first in the finale and led the Bulldogs 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning.

With the season on the line, Georgia tied it up with an RBI single from Dallis Goodnight. With two outs, Sydney Chambley hit a walk-off single to center field that sealed the Georgia win, 3-2.

WALK OFF TO SUPERS 🤩#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN+ / @UGASoftballpic.twitter.com/8cNmLLTSoH

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 19, 2024

Los Angeles — No. 6 UCLA

The Bruins recorded two five-inning wins against Grand Canyon to secure their spot in Super Regionals. In Sunday’s final, Sharlize Palacios hit a three-run home run — her third homer of the weekend.

HOTTEST HITTER IN THE COUNTRY 🔥@SharPalacios homers for the third time this Regional! We're up 3-0 five pitches into the game!

📺: ESPN2
📲: https://t.co/T5Ovxk6xCw#GoBruins | #LevelUp pic.twitter.com/ZPFqEnbFL7

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 19, 2024

Durham — No. 10 Duke

The Blue Devils safely advanced with three wins on the weekend, but the play of this regional came from South Carolina’s Marissa Gonzalez on Saturday. With Duke leading 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Kelly Torres drilled a deep ball to left field. It looked like a goner, but — using the fence to lift her up — Gonzalez stretched to steal the home run. The play was No. 1 on SportsCenter’s Top 10.

The No. 1 play on @SportsCenter Top 10?? @marissa__12__‼️#Gameco*cks🤙 pic.twitter.com/eXeapFcINX

— Gameco*ck Softball (@Gameco*ckSoftbll) May 19, 2024

The Blue Devils scored five runs later in the inning to win by the run rule 8-0 and then advanced with a 10-1 win against the Gameco*cks the next day.

Tallahassee — No. 15 Florida State

Tied 3-3 with Auburn in the regional final, Florida State pulled away with seven runs in the sixth inning. Isa Torres hit the second three-run homer of the day for the Seminoles — Michaela Edenfield hit the first in the third inning — to push the Noles forward to a 10-4 victory.

HOLY MOLY ISA TORRES‼️‼️‼️

3-0 PITCH OBLITERATED. 10-3 NOLES

📺ACC Network#ALL4ONE pic.twitter.com/oRTiURY8X4

— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) May 20, 2024

Norman — No. 2 Oklahoma

The reigning national champion advanced to its 14th consecutive Super Regional with a run-rule win against Cleveland State (9-0 in six innings) followed by two wins against Oregon. Senior RHP Nicole May earned her second win of the regional in Sunday’s finale while relief from Kelly Maxwell closed out the 3-2 win against the Ducks.

On deck for the Sooners is a rematch of last year’s WCWS championship series against Florida State. Here’s a look at the rest of the Super Regional matchups, with the schedule and how to watch:

All times in ET, each series is best of three.

Austin: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Texas A&M

• Game 1: Friday, May 24, 6 p.m., ESPN2
• Game 2: Saturday, May 25, 5 p.m.

Norman: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Florida State

• Game 1: Thursday, May 23, 7 p.m., ESPN2
• Game 2: Friday, May 24, 8 p.m.

Knoxville: No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Alabama

• Game 1: Friday, May 24, 4 p.m., ESPN2
• Game 2: Saturday, May 25, 3 p.m.

Gainesville: No. 4 Florida vs. Baylor

• Game 1: Friday, May 24, Noon, ESPN2
• Game 2: Saturday, May 25, 11 a.m.

Stillwater: No. 5 Oklahoma State vs. Arizona

• Game 1: Friday, May 24, 8 p.m., ESPNU
• Game 2: Saturday, May 25, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles: No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 11 Georgia

• Game 1: Thursday, May 23, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2
• Game 2: Friday, May 24, 10 p.m.

Columbia: No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Duke

• Game 1: Friday, May 24, 2 p.m., ESPN2
• Game 2: Saturday, May 25, 1 p.m.

Stanford: No. 8 Stanford vs. No 9 LSU

• Game 1: Friday, May 24, 10 p.m., ESPNU
• Game 2: Saturday, May 25, 9 p.m.

(Photo of Karlyn Pickens: Randy Sartin / Special To The News Sentinel / USA Today)

Jayna Bardahl is a college football staff editor for The Athletic. She has worked as an editor and reporter covering Big Ten football and men's basketball, and was an intern at The Boston Globe, where she covered the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. Follow Jayna on Twitter @Jaynabardahl