NORMAN — The schedule for Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 3 in the Norman Super Regional is set. 

Oklahoma will battle Mississippi State at 1:30 p.m. at Love’s Field, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Bulldogs roared back in Friday’s series-opener to notch an 11-9 victory over 3-seeded OU to put Patty Gasso’s team on the brink of elimination. 

But the Sooners responded emphatically on Saturday. 

Oklahoma plated seven runs in the top of the third inning to get a foothold in the series, and Audrey Lowry was excellent in the circle to bring home a 7-1 win. 

How to Watch Game 3 of the Norman Super Regional

• When: Sunday, May 24
• Where: Love’s Field
• Time: 1:30 p.m.
• Channel: ESPN

The winner of Sunday’s contest will advance to the 2026 Women’s College World Series, where they will play either 6-seeded Florida or 11-seeded Texas Tech next Thursday, as the Gators and the Red Raiders will also clash in a Game 3 in the Gainesville Super Regional on Sunday. 

Friday’s defeat was Oklahoma’s first in a Super Regional since 2015, and it snapped a 31-game NCAA Tournament winning streak at home. It was also the first NCAA Tournament game that the Sooners had lost at Love’s Field. 

A victory on Sunday would see OU get back to the WCWS in Oklahoma City for the 10th-straight tournament. The last time the Sooners were not in the WCWS field was 2015.

• Mississippi State softball defeated No. 3 seed Oklahoma 11-9 in its first-ever super regional win.
• The Bulldogs scored nine runs in the final two innings to overcome multiple deficits.
• This was Mississippi State’s first victory against Oklahoma in program history.

Considering Mississippi State softball was playing in just its third NCAA Tournament super regional game, few outside of Starkville were optimistic about the Bulldogs’ chances against national power Oklahoma.

However, despite facing the No. 3 seed Sooners (51-9), who have made the Women’s College World Series every time since 2016, the Bulldogs (42-18) managed to pick up their first super regional win. The Bulldogs took down the Sooners 11-9 at Love’s Field in Norman, Oklahoma on May 22.

“Just really love the fight they showed,” said Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts, who was an All-American at Oklahoma. “It was just up and down the lineup. People who started in the lineup, who entered it later in the game, and that’s really been kind of the M.O. for this group all year long. They embrace their roles. They’re ready to come out and attack.”

Mississippi State had to fight back from several multi-run deficits to win. The Bulldogs trailed by four entering the sixth inning and by three entering the seventh. They scored nine runs in the final two innings to earn the win.

“A lot of times this season, our pitchers have had our back, and I thought this time, the offense did a really good job having the pitchers’ backs,” Ricketts said.

It’s the first time Mississippi State has beaten Oklahoma after being 0-11 against the Sooners entering the series. The victory also puts the Bulldogs just one win away from making it to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history.

• Mississippi State softball defeated Oklahoma in a super regional game, overcoming significant odds.
• The Bulldogs scored nine runs in the final two innings to secure an 11-9 comeback victory.
• Before this game, Mississippi State had never won a super regional game or beaten Oklahoma.

By nearly every metric, Mississippi State softball was the underdog in its NCAA Tournament super regional matchup with Oklahoma.

The No. 3 seed Sooners (51-9) hadn’t lost a super regional game since 2015. That is until the Bulldogs (42-18) came back to beat Oklahoma 11-9 on May 22 at Love’s Field in Norman. Mississippi State scored nine runs in the final two innings to win.

The Bulldogs’ win seemed unlikely for a number of reasons. They were playing in just their second super regional while the Sooners were playing their 19th. Mississippi State had never even won a super regional game. Oklahoma had won 18 straight and hadn’t lost one since 2015.

Entering the day, Oklahoma had lost just one game at home this season. Mississippi State was 0-11 against the Sooners all-time, and eight of those losses came under coach Samantha Ricketts, who was an All-American at Oklahoma.

Even Oklahoma’s uniform combination was a recipe for success. The Sooners were 11-0 when wearing white tops and red bottoms.

As if the odds against Mississippi State entering the first game of the best-of-three series weren’t stacked high enough, the statistical improbability of the Bulldogs’ win appeared to grow as the game went on.

According to ESPN, since 2000, the Sooners were 77-0 when leading by four or more runs in a regional or super regional game. Oklahoma led 5-1 in the third inning and 6-2 in the fourth.

This season, Oklahoma was 14-0 when leading after six innings. Mississippi State was 1-15 when trailing after six innings. The Sooners led 9-6 entering the sixth inning thanks to a three-run home run hit by star freshman Kendall Wells.

They were also 42-2 when scoring at least six runs and 31-1 when totaling at least 10 hits. Wells’ home run was hit No. 11.

Still, the Bulldogs found a way to buck all of these trends to take Game 1. Now, Mississippi State has a chance to qualify for the Women’s College World Series for the first time if they recreate this same magic in Game 2 May 23 (noon CT, ESPN).

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.