10 NCAA softball players who will define the super regionals

The NCAA softball super regionals begin on Thursday when No. 4 Arkansas welcomes Texas to Fayetteville (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN App).

If the first round of the tournament was any indication, get ready for the unexpected. Florida State became the first top-two seed to get bounced in the regionals since 2005 when it lost to unseeded Mississippi State last weekend. Another first since 2005 when the tournament expanded: No Alabama in the supers after it was upset by unseeded Stanford.

Anything can happen this time of year as the pressure builds and a shot at reaching the Women's College World Series is on the line, but we've got a feeling these 10 players will define the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Arkansas P Chenise Delce

The question isn't whether Arkansas can hit. The Razorbacks had the No. 1 slugging percentage in the SEC (.618) this season. The question is whether they can keep Texas' bats — which ranked second in the Big 12 in batting average — quiet. Enter Delce, the SEC Pitcher of the Year with a 2.18 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 135 innings pitched. During the deciding game against Oregon this past weekend, she threw her 13th complete game this season, striking out nine batters and taking a shutout into the seventh inning.

Clemson P Millie Thompson

No. 10 Clemson didn't allow a run in three regional games and advanced to the super regionals for the first time in program history thanks in large part to Thompson. The lefty was superb last weekend, allowing only one hit and striking out nine in her 10 innings pitched. Oklahoma State's lineup has some big bats, including transfer Miranda Elish, but the Cowgirls have scored two or fewer runs in 16 games this season and can be silenced.

Duke SS Jameson Kavel

The Blue