The Pac-12 heads into the Super Regional round of the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament with the most teams still vying for a national championship. How can Washington make it to Oklahoma City and the Women’s College World Series for the 15th time in program history? Let’s take a look. 

Louisiana (50-14) at No. 7 Washington (41-13) — Seattle Super Regional

Both Washington and Louisiana need a bit of magic to get to this point. The Huskies produced the Miracle on Montlake, rallying for seven runs in the seventh to beat McNeese and advance. The Ragin’ Cajuns coughed up a six-run lead before coming back to beat LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional. 

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Sami Reynolds and Madison Huskey had their hand in UW's historic comeback last Sunday. When you toss in 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year Baylee Klingler, the three combined are responsible for 43 percent of the team’s RBIs this season. When Reynolds and Huskey are locked in at the plate, more teams have to pitch to Klingler. The Huskies carrying the momentum into Super Regionals would be big. Jadelyn Allchin has also been good at the plate since the start of the Pac-12 Tournament with nine hits and three home runs in that span. 

Washington rides with freshman Ruby Meylan in the circle. The righty from Omaha, Nebraska has stepped in swifty into the ace role for Heather Tarr. She has team-low 2.27 ERA while earning 17 wins and six saves this season. Meylan also pitched well in her  NCAA Tournament debut, throwing six scoreless innings and not allowing a run until the seventh versus McNeese. We’ll see a decent amount of Lindsay Lopez and Kelley Lynch as well. Brooke Nelson is also a viable option, especially after throwing three scoreless innings to allow her team to comeback in the regional final. 

Louisiana’s offensive production is more evenly divided than Washington. Ten different Ragin' Cajuns have at least 100 at-bats this year. Karly Heath, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, belted a team-high 16 home runs and stole 24 bases. Power and speed is a common theme throughout the lineup. Lauren Allred and Alexa Langeliers have combined to hit 25 home runs. Mihya Davis has swiped 51 bags. 

Heath also pitches, giving Louisiana 42.1 innings this year. Similar to the offense, head coach Gerry Glasco uses a handful of arms. Sam Landry, Meghan Schorman and Kandra Lamb all have 10 wins this season. Landry and Schorman are more of the de facto starters, Lamb is used a lot in the reliever role. Though you could see any of them, Heath or freshman Chloe Riasesetto at any moment. 

How can Washington win

The Washington bats have to come through in clutch situations. When the Huskies lost in the first game to McNeese in the regional final, they were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Whether it be clutch homers from even the likes of Lynch or Rylee Holtorf, or finding the big base knock, that will be the big thing. Washington also has one of the best defenses in the country with a .982 fielding percentage (fourth-best in the country). That has been a staple of the Huskies this season. 

Washington players to know

• RHP Ruby Meylan – 2.27 ERA, 17-5, 6 SV, 189 SO, .218 B/AVG
• INF Baylee Klingler – .391 AVG, 1.172 OPS, 13 2B, 12 HR, 47 RBI, 31 BB
• LF Sami Reynolds – .366 AVG, 1.039 OPS, 11 2B, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 8 SB
• RF Madison Huskey – .329 AVG, .996 OPS, 6 2B, 3 3B, 42 RBI

Louisiana players to know

• RHP Sam Landry – 2.05 ERA, 19-5, 146 SO, .190 B/AVG
• RHP Meghan Schorman – 1.95 ERA, 14-6, 1 SV, .199 B/AVG
• P/UTL Karly Heath – .358 AVG, 1.135 OPS, 8 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 24 SB / 2.18 ERA, 5-1, 41 SO, .145 B/AVG
• CF Mihya Davis – .382 BA, .887 OPS, 4 2B, 2 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 51 SB

Schedule

• Game 1: Friday, May 26, 7 p.m. PT | ESPN
• Game 2: Saturday, May 27, 4 p.m. PT | TBD
• Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 28 | TBD

Other Pac-12 Super Regional Previews

• Stanford at Duke
• Oregon at Oklahoma State
• San Diego State at Utah