After a 3-2 series in Provo, Utah., the No. 12 University of Arizona softball team will return home for the first time since the Wildcats’ matchups against BYU. They face No. 18 Oklahoma State University in their first conference series against a ranked team from Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6 at Hillenbrand Stadium. 

Arizona’s record going into this weekend stands at 31-6. In the rankings, The Wildcats moved back from the top 10 in NCAA rankings and were brought down to No.12.

As of April 1, Arizona ranks fourth in batting average amongst all NCAA teams, hitting a .368. The Wildcats are also the only team in the NCAA with two pitchers that earned over 11 home runs and seven wins each. Those players include Devyn Netz and Miranda Stoddard. 

Arizona is second in the conference as the Wildcats record is 8-4. Oklahoma State University currently sits at fourth in the conference with a record of 4-3 and a 21-9 season record.

Despite the Wildcats having a 19-12 total series lead along with six wins in their last ten matchups against OSU, the Cowgirls have won four of their last five matchups.

The last three times these teams saw each other have all come in the Women’s College World. In 2022, Oklahoma State beat Arizona 4-2 sending them to the elimination bracket. In last year’s tournament, The Cowgirls swept the Wildcats in the Super Regionals, knocking them out of the competition entirely.

This will be the Cowgirl’s first visit to Hillenbrand in 10 years. The matchup that took place then saw an eight-inning thriller where the Wildcats emerged victorious 4-3. Ruby Meylan is a player that the Wildcats will have to keep an eye on from the mound. She ranks twelfth in the country in ERA with an impressive 1.24. 

The two teams will battle it out here in the desert this weekend as the first matchup is set for 6 p.m. The game will also be streamed on ESPN+.

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