by Zachary Knecht
Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
Weber State Omni Preview
The Weber State Wildcats travel to Oklahoma Friday to partake in the Omni Hall of Fame Classic. Though WSU has faced many formidable foes in non-conference play already, no tournament quite has the firepower they will see this weekend, with battles against the #1 and #19 teams in their rotation.
While it is a daunting task to compete against some of the top teams in the nation, the Wildcats have an excellent opportunity to showcase their talents on a grand stage. Weber State has five games in Oklahoma City, facing #19 Auburn, #1 Oklahoma twice, and Northwestern twice. WSU will have no breaks in the action as Northwestern was the first team on the bubble in the NFCA top 25, falling out of the rankings after their appearance at #24.
Friday 10 am MST
Weber State versus #19 Auburn
The #19 Auburn Tigers enter play at 21-5, dominating their way into the mix of the nation’s top teams. Conference play has come sooner for the Tigers than many other squads – including the Wildcats – and has thrown a wrench in their early campaign. After a 20-3 start, Auburn dropped consecutive games for the first time this season, going 1-2 in their series against the #18 Georgia Bulldogs. Their roster will be tested in Oklahoma, but the Wildcats hope to extend Auburn’s losing streak to three. Weber State impressed with their win over Boston University, but a win against a ranked opponent would put the rest of the Big Sky on notice entering conference play.
Friday 3 pm MST
Weber State versus #1 Oklahoma
If this weekend’s challenge isn’t already starting rough, it’s going to get even more terrifying for WSU in their second game Friday, battling the #1 Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have been in the top echelon of college softball for the past several seasons, winning four of the last six NCAA Softball championships, and their momentum has yet to slow down. They have played nearly flawless this season, starting blazing hot at 22-1, their lone loss coming to now #21 Baylor. They’ve mopped the floor with ranked and unranked teams alike, their signature victory coming against then #1 UCLA to the tune of a 14-0, five-inning contest. Oklahoma has shut out their opponents 15 times in their 23 games, so the Wildcats would impress with any offensive production.
Saturday 10 am MST
Weber State versus Northwestern
Weber State kicks off their Saturday against the 9-7 Northwestern Wildcats. Don’t let their record fool you, though, because they are more than talented but have had a rough schedule in 2023. Of Northwestern’s seven losses, five came against ranked opponents, but they’ve made most of those games competitive. They only lost by one to ranked teams such as #4 Clemson, #20 Oregon, and #3 UCLA, while taking down towering foes like #14 Kentucky and #11 Texas. Though their record shows Northwestern is barely over .500, they’ve had one of the roughest schedules in softball since their opening game.
Saturday 3 pm MST
Weber State versus #1 Oklahoma
One battle against the nation’s top team already seemed excessive, but the Wildcats will take on #1 Oklahoma for a second time in the latter half of Saturday. Seeing the damage the Sooners have done to nearly anyone in their path, WSU would be satisfied to keep either game relatively competitive. For a team like Weber State looking to get on the right track before the beginning of conference play, the schedule-makers certainly did it no favors a couple of weeks before their first Big Sky matchup.
Sunday 10:30 am MST
Weber State versus Northwestern
The Wildcats conclude their Oklahoma City trip against the… Wildcats. While Northwestern is one of the most talented teams in the nation, they are the most vulnerable opponent for Weber State to take down this weekend. WSU has to adopt the mantra ‘Any Given Sunday’ heading into their final duel because it’s slated to be a bumpy ride for the Ogden proud.
Leaving this weekend with one win would be more than impressive for Weber State, but they’re hoping to keep any of their games within reach. The Wildcats aim to weather the pre-April showers as their time in Oklahoma may be brutal.
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