The Bay Area will be well-represented when the NCAA Division I softball tournament opens Friday, the first step in the quest to reach the College World Series.
Santa Clara is set to make its first-ever tournament appearance, while postseason regulars Cal and Stanford – who earlier this month set an NCAA attendance record by playing before 13,207 fans at Stanford Stadium – look to pick up where they left off a year ago and make breakthroughs of their own.
The Broncos (32-20) just missed making the 64-team field last season, but over the weekend earned the first tournament berth in the 46-year history of the program by winning the West Coast Conference tournament. SCU plays in the Tucson Regional and faces No. 13 Arizona at 4:30 p.m. The winner will face either Mississippi or Grand Canyon.
Santa Clara pitcher Cari Ferguson (28) pitches during an NCAA softball game against Sacramento State on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Sacramento Calif. (AP Photo/Lachlan Cunningham)Sixth-year coach Gina Carbonatto has already guided the Broncos to a single-season school record for wins. The Broncos, sparked by leadoff hitter and WCC player of the year Cairah Curran, led the league in runs scored and batting average (.311). SCU also led the league with a 3.12 ERA, paced by three first-team all-WCC pitchers – Cari Ferguson (the WCC pitcher and freshman of the year), Hannah Edwards and Hazyl Gray.
No. 16 ranked Stanford (40-11) is making its sixth straight tournament appearance and 22nd in the past 28 years. The Cardinal is looking to reach the CWS for the third straight year. Stanford reached the semifinals each of the past two seasons. The Cardinal lost 1-0 to top-seeded Texas last season and lost 4-2 to eventual national champion Oklahoma in 2023.
Stanford, which played its home games in the football stadium while the softball complex is being renovated, is playing in the Eugene Regional, hosted by Oregon. The Cardinal will play Binghamton of New York in its first game at 2 p.m., with the winner playing either Oregon or Weber State.
A record breaking number of fans watches a game between Stanford and the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)The Cardinal has one of the most potent offenses in the nation, setting single-season records for home runs and runs scored.
They are averaging 8.1 runs per game and their .357 team batting average, which is second in the nation, also would establish a new school record.
Kyra Chan and Jade Berry are tied for the team lead with 58 RBIs and River Mahler is batting a team-high .434 with 51 RBIs.
Base runner River Mahler (1) of Stanford rounds third base during an NCAA softball game against Seattle on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Lachlan Cunningham)The Cardinal would not face NiJaree Canady, their former ace who signed a $1 million NIL deal to transfer to Texas Tech after last season, unless both teams are among the eight to advance to the CWS in Oklahoma City. The Red Raiders (45-12) are the No. 12 national seed. Stanford is No. 17.
Cal (35-19) is making its third straight appearance, 36th overall, and looking to reach the Super Regionals for the first time since the Bears reached the semifinals of the 2012 CWS. The Bears were eliminated in the second round a year ago, losing 3-2 to Southern Illinois.
First-team All-ACC catcher Lagi Quiroga is hitting .353 and leads the team in hits and runs scored. Five of the sophomore’s 11 home runs were to lead off a game, including the Bears’ season opener against Minnesota.
Cal’s Miranda De Nava (14) celebrates with her teammates after they won against Stanford at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)The Bears are in the Norman Regional and face Omaha at 12:30 p.m., with the winner playing either four-time defending national champion Oklahoma or Boston University.
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