The Oklahoma Sooners host Michigan, Kansas, and Binghamton in the Norman Regional this weekend, featuring standout players like Binghamton's Rachel Carey. Oklahoma's pitching staff aims for improved consistency after a recent loss to Georgia.
The Oklahoma Sooners welcome Michigan, Kansas, and Binghamton to Norman this weekend for the Norman Regional. It's a group of teams that could provide some fireworks this weekend with a number of stars capable of filling up the box score.
Oklahoma's pitching staff has had some good moments this season, but is still working to find a championship consistency. It's been a struggle keeping the ball in the park. That issue arose in Oklahoma's 10-5 loss to Georgia in the SEC Tournament. With the players coming to Norman this weekend, there's a chance for some big numbers put on the scoreboard.
Here's a look at the players to watch this weekend in the Norman regional.
Rachel Carey is a sophomore out of Delaware and has put together a fantastic season. She leads the bearcats with a .477 batting average with 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and a team high 47 RBIs. In seven games early in the season against high-major competition, Carey went 10-for-23 with three runs scored and four RBIs.
Michigan Wolverines utility Lauren Putz (2) celebrates after getting on base Friday, May 9, 2025, during the Big Ten softball tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Purdue University's Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Michigan won 4-2.
Lauren Putz is a star for the Michigan Wolverines. A sophomore out of Arizona, she's hitting .442 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs. She also has 18 doubles and 41 walks. She's an on-base machine and someone who can change a game with the swing of a bat.
Key players include Rachel Carey from Binghamton, who has a .477 batting average and leads her team in home runs and RBIs.
Rachel Carey has an impressive batting average of .477 this season.
Oklahoma lost to Georgia with a score of 10-5 in the SEC Tournament.
The teams competing in the Norman Regional include Oklahoma, Michigan, Kansas, and Binghamton.
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Ella Boyer, a freshman out of Texas, put together a great year one in Lawrence, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year. She's hitting .336 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs entering the NCAA tournament. She also has 10 doubles and 35 walks this season. 10 of her 18 home runs came in Big 12 play, including a stretch of five games in a row with a home run against BYU and Arizona State.
Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates her home run in the second inning during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Friday, April, 24, 2026. Wells sett the new OU softball single-season home run record.
Freshman Kendall Wells came up short in the home run race to pass Arizona's Laura Espinoza. UCLA's Megan Grant was the first to 38, but Wells still has time to catch the UCLA star in the postseason and set the home run record by the end of 2026. She's just two behind Grant. She's gone five games without a home run after four home runs in five games against Arkansas and Georgia. It's not all about the home run race for Wells or the Sooners, but when she's hitting long balls, the Oklahoma Sooners are better.
FridayGame 1: Binghamton vs. OU, 2:30 p.m. (SEC Network)Game 2: Michigan vs. Kansas, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
SaturdayGame 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3 p.m.Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5:30 p.m.Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.
SundayGame 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 3 p.m.Game 7: *If Necessary, 5:30 p.m.
Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) throws a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) throws a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Gabbie Garcia (42) fields a ground ball during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kasidi Pickering (7) fields a ground ball during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Ella Parker (5) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Abby Dayton (16) throws the ball during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) throws to first during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) prepares to throw a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) throws a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) throws a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) throws a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Gabbie Garcia (42) fields a ground ball during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Kasidi Pickering (7) fields a ground ball during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Ella Parker (5) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Abby Dayton (16) throws the ball during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) throws to first during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Miali Guachino (99) prepares to throw a pitch during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) celebrates a home run during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 25, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Norman Regional Roundup: Key players to know from each team