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Late March Briefs (2023)

With college basketball's March Madness going on, I only have time for some brief softball items at this point:

  • No. 1 Oklahoma continues to roll along, advancing to 30-1 with a three-game sweep at Iowa State this past weekend to begin Big 12 play. The Sooners outscored the Cyclones by a cumulative 26-3, but the opener was a close 3-0 decision. OU will host No. 8/9 Texas in a three-game series this weekend.
  • Talking about Texas, the Longhorns swept Texas Tech (where I teach) over the weekend. The Red Raider program has experienced extensive coaching turnover in recent years, but has fared well this season under new coach Craig Snider. Texas Tech completed its nonconference slate with a 26-8 record, including wins over ranked Maryland and Texas State. And even though the Raiders lost all three games at Texas, two were by one run (3-2 Friday and 4-3 Saturday).
  • Sticking with the Big 12, No. 2 Oklahoma State (29-2) swept Baylor by scores of 6-5 (11 innings), 5-0 and 5-1.
  • In the SEC, No. 3/4 Tennessee advanced to 26-2 (8-1 in conference), taking two out of three from Alabama.
  • Out west, Stanford (with three easy wins over Oregon State) and Utah (off this past weekend) are tied for the Pac 12 lead at 5-1. UCLA and Washington are next, both 6-3. The Bruins have taken two of three in each of their conference series thus far (vs. Cal, Washington, and Oregon). 
  • UCLA announced that outfielder Aaliyah Jordan, who has suffered two ACL tears during her college career, has been medically cleared to play, in what will be her seventh year in the program.

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