ESPN to televise every game of NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals
April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments
Continuing on the road to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS), ESPN will televise every game from the NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals providing fans up to 24 games across ESPN networks from Thursday, May 24, to Sunday, May 27. Games will be available on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Road to the Women’s College World Series
What started as a field of 64 has been reduced to 16 heading into the Super Regionals with this weekend determining the eight teams that will compete in the Women’s College World Series. For the second consecutive year, all 16 national seeds advanced following regional play with only three of those teams needing a game seven to punch their ticket.
The two-time defending champions No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners will host the No.13 Arkansas Razorbacks who make their first ever appearance in the Super Regionals. No. 1 seed Oregon will host No. 16 Kentucky in Eugene for the second consecutive year. Perhaps the most-storied Super Regional will be Los Angeles, where fans will witness the two most winningest teams in NCAA softball history in No. 3 UCLA and No. 14 Arizona—who, between the two schools, hold 19 of the 35 WCWS titles.
Shaggin’ Stats
- The SEC continues on a three-year streak of being the conference to send the most teams to the Super Regionals with nine, breaking its own record of eight from last year.
- No.12 Alabama has made the highest number of appearances at the Super Regionals (format began in 2005) with 14, followed by No. 8 Arizona with 13, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 Washington both with 12
- Three of the Super Regional match-ups will be between Pac-12 and SEC Schools. The Pac-12 is currently 3-1 against the SEC in the post-season.
The Voices of ESPN
ESPN’s WCWS commentator team will reunite for the Los Angeles Super Regional when Sunday Night Baseball analyst and two-time Olympic softball player Jessica Mendoza joins fellow college softball analyst Michele Smith, play-by-play commentator Beth Mowins and reporter Holly Rowe. Mendoza began her career with ESPN as a softball analyst and has contributed to many WCWS telecasts. Amanda Scarborough—who is the analyst on the dayside team for the WCWS—will be in Gainseville alongside play-by-play commentator Tiffany Greene.
The additional commentator teams for the weekend: Eric Frede and Jennie Ritter (Seattle), Alex Loeb and Megan Willis (Athens), Mark Neely and Danielle Lawrie (Eugene), Kevin Brown and Erin Miller (Tallahassee), Pam Ward and Carol Bruggeman (Norman) and Courtney Lyle and Jenny Dalton-Hill (Tempe).
7Innings Podcast
Fans can keep up with all of the action thanks to 7Innings, a weekly softball podcast chronicling the Road to the WCWS. Each week ESPN personalities covering the sport shine a spotlight on the teams and players that make the sport so special. The talent line-up includes Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, Amanda Scarborough, Holly Rowe, Laura Rutledge and Adam Amin.
The most recent edition “Sunset Skirmish” posted on Tuesday, May 22 and is available via iTunes and Google Play. An additional full-length, edition will be availableTuesday, May 29, leading into the WCWS and as an added bonus, shorter editions called “Extra Innings” will be available every morning of the WCWS.
espnW
espnW will continue to provide in-depth softball coverage with news, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the Super Regionals. In addition, espnW will announce its espnW Player of the Year on Wednesday, May 23.
Eugene Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Thu, May 24
9 p.m.
No. 16 Kentucky vs. No. 1 Oregon
Mark Neely, Danielle Lawrie
ESPN2
Fri, May 25
11 p.m.
No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 16 Kentucky
Mark Neely, Danielle Lawrie
ESPN2
Sat, May 26
9 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPN
Tempe Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Fri, May 25
11 p.m.
No. 9 South Carolina vs. No. 8 Arizona State
Courtney Lyle, Jenny Dalton-Hill
ESPNU
Sat, May 26
9 p.m.
No. 8 Arizona State vs. No. 8 South Carolina
Courtney Lyle, Jenny Dalton-Hill
ESPN2
Sun, May 27
9 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPNU
Seattle Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Fri, May 25
9 p.m.
No. 12 Alabama vs. No. 5 Washington
Eric Frede, Jennie Ritter
ESPNU
Sat, May 26
7 p.m.
No. 5 Washington vs. No. 12 Alabama
Eric Frede, Jennie Ritter
ESPN2
Sun, May 27
7 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPNU
Norman Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Fri, May 25
5 p.m.
No. 13 Arkansas vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
Pam Ward, Carol Bruggeman
ESPN2
Sat, May 26
1 p.m.
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Arkansas
Pam Ward, Carol Bruggeman
ESPN
Sun, May 27
1 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPN
Los Angeles Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Thu, May 24
9 p.m.
No. 14 Arizona vs. No. 3 UCLA
Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN
Fri, May 25
9 p.m.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 14 Arizona
Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN2
Sat, May 26
7 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPN
Tallahassee Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Fri, May 25
7 p.m.
No. 11 LSU vs. No. 6 Florida State
Kevin Brown, Erin Miller
ESPNU
Sat, May 26
5 p.m.
No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 11 LSU
Kevin Brown, Erin Miller
ESPN2
Sun, May 27
3 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPNU
Athens Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Fri, May 25
5 p.m.
No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Georgia
Alex Loeb, Megan Willis
ESPNU
Sat, May 26
3 p.m.
No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Tennessee
Alex Loeb, Megan Willis
ESPN
Sun, May 27
3 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPN
Gainesville Super Regional
Date
Time
Game
Network
Thu, May 24
7 p.m.
No. 15 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Florida
Tiffany Greene, Amanda Scarborough
ESPN
Fri, May 25
7 p.m.
No. 2 Florida vs. No. 15 Texas A&M
Tiffany Greene, Amanda Scarborough
ESPN2
Sat, May 26
5 p.m.
Game 3: If Necessary
ESPN
— Courtesy of ESPN media