'We started this program on the mantra that we were going to shock the world,' Rittman said. The target is on someone else's back this time, and Rittman said that lets the Tigers play more relaxed. That's the opposite of what the team faced most of this season as its record kept climbing and Cagle continued dominate in both parts of the game. In short, The Tigers must play their best softball yet.Ĭlemson knows most don't expect it to win. It needs the Sooners to make some mistakes, and it needs its hitters to be patient against Oklahoma's arsenal of aces. It will need its other pitchers, who combine with Cagle for the nation's second-best ERA behind the Sooners, to step up against the big Oklahoma bats. So how do you beat a team that's in the conversation as the best to ever play the game? Clemson will need Cagle to be her usual self at the plate and in the circle. 'They put their shoes and pants on just like we do,' he said Wednesday. But Rittman also said the team isn't star-struck by the storied Sooners. Oklahoma leads the country in batting average (.376), scoring (8.38 runs per game), home runs (104), ERA (0.88) and more. 'Oklahoma is as good a team as there ever has been in this game of softball. 'It's going to be a challenge,' Clemson coach John Rittman said. 16 seed and the date with top-seed Oklahoma. Low strength of schedule, however, meant a low RPI for Clemson, and that set it up for the No. They run-ruled 15 opponents in the regular season and won 17 games by shutout. They have a national player of the year candidate in Valerie Cagle. The Tigers haven't been an underdog much this season. The super regional matchup marks new territory for this year's Clemson team. View Gallery: Photos: Clemson softball leave for NCAA Super Regional in Oklahoma SUPER PREDICTIONS: Who's going to the Women's College World Series? Experts make NCAA softball super regional picksĬLEMSON BASEBALL: What Clemson baseball is playing for in ACC Tournament with first NCAA bid since 2019 locked up No, really: How good is this Oklahoma team?

Two wins over Clemson (49-10) would not only mean another WCWS appearance, it would also make the Sooners the NCAA record-holders for longest winning streak. Oklahoma (54-1) has won 46 straight games since its lone loss.

Only one team has beaten Oklahoma this season: Baylor, once in February.Ĭlemson will have to do it twice to advance. 1-seed Sooners to make their first Women's College World Series. That's what awaits Clemson in the Norman Super Regional, which begins Friday (2 p.m. What do you get when you combine the nation's best hitting team with its top pitching staff? Throw in six national titles and 29 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and you have Oklahoma softball.

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