WCW 2019 Championship Series – Oklahoma Guide Against UCLA

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma and UCLA, the two best teams of the season, will be playing for a national softball title in the NCAA at the Women's World Series. This is the first time in history that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will meet in the last act of the tournament.

Rachel Garcia (UCLA) and Sydney Romero (Oklahoma), two of the biggest stars in the game, will look to add another exclamation point to the already spectacular seasons of their teams.

The story also plays in this area. Oklahoma, seeded, hopes to win its third title in four years. The second seed, UCLA, hopes to recover a title she lost control in 2010.

The first game of the three best games series will be held Monday (7:30 pm Eastern Time, ESPN) and the second game on Tuesday (8:30 pm Eastern Time, ESPN). If necessary, the third match is scheduled for Wednesday (20:30 ET, ESPN).

Here is our ultimate guide.

L & # 39; s history

UCLA: The Bruins have the largest number of championships in Division I history (11), but have not won since 2010, their last participation in the championship series. The Bruins qualified for the semi-finals in 2018, but were beaten twice by the future Florida State champion. Many big names in the history of the game – Dot Richardson, Debbie Doom, Lisa Fernandez, Stacey Nuveman, Natasha Watley – have donned the UCLA blue. The history of the sport runs through Westwood.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma has won four national titles, including two in the last three years. With a win this year, Oklahoma would join Arizona and, of course, UCLA, the only program to win three titles in four years. Oklahoma earned its first title in 2000 and its second in 2013, thanks largely to Keilani Ricketts, who is currently a volunteer assistant coach from Oklahoma.

Head-to-head

UCLA and Oklahoma clashed at the Mary Nutter Classic in February. The Bruins had the best of OU in that game, beating the Sooners 7-1. Rachel Garcia totally dominated the team, eliminating 15 batters while allowing four hits and two in three. Nicole Mendes scored a draw for three with three strikeouts. Sydney Romero has left four riders stranded. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the ace of Oklahoma, Giselle Juarez, did not launch this match. Mariah Lopez had the beginning and the defeat. It is difficult to know what we can learn from this match, which took place in the third week of the season. Is Garcia still in the Sooners' minds? Or did things like Oklahoma's 41-game winning streak make it a failure on the radar?

Pitch

UCLA: The Bruins will put junior pitcher Rachel Garcia in the circle in every game. She is the consensual player of the year and has recorded 53 2/3 of the 62 UCLA playoff heats, including every round of the Women's College World Series. She is 27-1 on the year with an EER of 1.09 and 282 scratches. "She is just an absolute athlete," said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso. "We were looking at her just today to handle stuff on the mound, pull out big sleeves and kick in. To watch her work, she is the national player of the year." If there is one thing that Garcia has proven when he came out in ten innings and his 179 assists against Washington, it is that UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, will not dial the number of someone else. UCLA will live and die on Garcia's arm.

Oklahoma: Arizona State Transfer, Giselle "G" Juarez became the main starter of the Sooners. She is 28-2 with an EER of 1.16 and has 259 scratches. Juarez is likely to start for every game in the OUA championship series. "G is someone we met in the Pac-12 last year," said UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. "She is very talented and has changed her game a little bit this year." That's not to say that other launchers on the OR's lineup will go unused. Shannon Saile relieved Juarez in the OU match against Oklahoma State, getting the save. In the second match against Alabama Sunday, Mariah Lopez entered the circle after 1.2 inning. Lopez (19-1, 1.08 ERA) and Saile (10-1, 1.09 ERA) are among the country's leaders in this field. It would be surprising to see Saile or Lopez start a game, but if Juarez struggled and Gasso needed to change her, she would go to the pudding.

Hit

UCLA: Rookie Kelli Godin scored a .446 batting average in the Women's College World Series. She beats ninth. That is to say something. The Bruins were second in the country averaging batting (.342) before the women's world series. They have five batters with more than 40 RBIs: Bubba Nickles (70), Aaliyah Jordan (59) and Rachel Garcia (53). , Taylor Pack (49) and Briana Perez (41). The behavior of this group at the top of the order will be decisive.

Oklahoma: Did you see that Jocelyn Alo home run Sunday? It's a good place to start. The second year is just one of Oklahoma's stars that could hit anytime. The Sooners lead the nation on average to batting (.347) and circuits (111). Each OU striker has more than 25 RBIs and four – Jocelyn Alo (56), Sydney Romero (54), Grace Green (53) and Caleigh Clifton (52) – have more than 50 RBIs. The 423 RBI of the team are tied for second place in the country. In other words, this range is dirty.

Defense

UCLA: The Bruins have a field percentage of .973, which is ranked 24th at the top of the WCWS. The 41 errors of the season are more than double of 19 on Oklahoma. The Bruins may not be the best defensive team, but they are players. All tournaments, UCLA players have sold themselves to make games. For proof, see Brianna Tautalafua, third base player, attacking Sunday a ball in the guardrail of the canoe against Washington.

Oklahoma: Defense, as well as the offensive, supported Oklahoma during its tournaments. The Sooners are tied for the best percentage of commissioning in the country (.987). In 10 playoff games, Oklahoma has awarded a total of nine points. Of course, a lot of this has to do with Giselle Juarez & Co., but the defense is stable and true behind her. The best demonstration of the Sooners' commitment in the race to chase each ball is Fale Aviu who shoots a foul ball and slips into the concrete wall of Oklahoma's helmsman overhead. 39; Alabama.

framing

UCLA: Kelly Inouye-Perez, who coached the Bruins to their last title in 2010, wants his players to attack early and often. A big change this year is Lisa Fernandez taking over the pitchers. "I think the mental preparation with Lisa really paid off for all the throwers because they prepared for extra innings, very hot matches, in Oklahoma," Inouye-Perez said. The Bruins are also very attached to the development of a team culture under Inouye-Perez. They do not call it the "Bruin Bubble" for nothing. "People say we have culture at UCLA because we win," said Inouye-Perez. "Honestly, I think it's the opposite: we win because we have culture."

Oklahoma: Patty Gasso, who coached Oklahoma at its four national championships, has a mission to keep the Sooners from bending under the pressure, which seemed to be OKC's headache. She knows that her team has been taxed against Alabama and the quick turnaround will be difficult. But Gasso seems to know the right buttons to push. "We must have a crazy fight," said Gasso. "You have a chance to win a national championship, there is no tired, no injury, you have adrenaline."

Strengths

UCLA: There is only one Rachel Garcia, and the Bruins have it. She will do everything for her team to win, whether on the plate or in the circle. She is one of the greatest assets of each team. The consensual player of the year has the ability not only to affect the game, but also to determine the outcome. On top of that, UCLA has a balanced offensive attack with players who are hungry to deliver a title.

Oklahoma: Hitting, throwing, playing, you name it – there is a reason for the Sooners to be the highest ranked team in Oklahoma City. During the season, they were the best team and it shows in the OU statistical dominance. The offensive firepower is particularly disheartening. "I am very aware that [the Sooners] are offensive, "said Inouye-Perez.

weaknesses

UCLA: A lack of depth of pitch could come into play. If Garcia has a day off, what will Inouye-Perez do? She has her first rookie, Megan Faraimo, who won the National Player of the Year title at Gatorade last year, but Faraimo has not been tested in the NCAA tournament. This is also true of the second year Holly Azevedo. It is clear that Inouye-Perez does not have enough confidence in any of the pitchers to get him into the circle during this big step. And why would she, when will she have Garcia?

Oklahoma: The Sooners seniors vie for their third title, which creates pressure. OR suffered a surprising loss to Wisconsin in the regional game, which ended a run of 41 wins. In OKC, instead of closing Alabama with a match, OR lost 1-0 in a thriller. The Sooners have survived these tests, but it will not be as easy against UCLA.

X factors

Rachel Garcia has abandoned many circuits since May. It allowed only 12 goals all season, but 8 since May 1st. Oklahoma scored just three home runs at WCWS, all against Alabama on Sunday. Did they find their rhythm just in time for a confrontation with Garcia? "Once this team has a spark, it's really hard to stop," said Nicole Mendes.

Who will win?

UCLA will win if Rachel Garcia does things of Rachel Garcia. It's really that simple. Oklahoma can not win if Garcia does not let them score.

Oklahoma will win if his offense is capable of complicating life for Garcia. The lack of proven pitch depth is a major concern for UCLA. There is no plan B after Garcia. If the Sooners can force Inouye-Perez to recover, take advantage over Oklahoma.