Alabama vs. Oklahoma: Most Important Players in Pivotal Finals Rubber Match

In college softball, pitching rules everything. 

That's why it makes sense that Oklahoma and Alabama, teams that are led by arguably the two best pitchers in women's college softball, are set to battle it out Wednesday night for the national championship.

Let's take a further look at Keilani Ricketts, Jackie Traina and the most important players in the final and most pivotal game of the season.

Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma

Ricketts lasted just 3.1 innings against Alabama in Game 2, but that doesn't change how completely dominant the junior can be.

On the season, Ricketts has a 1.03 ERA and has struck 11 batters per seven innings, both of which are second in the country.

Not only is Ricketts a specimen to behold on the pitching circle, she serves as the Sooners cleanup hitter, where she excels. She's hitting .404 with 16 homers, which are also among national leaders. 

Not many players in the country can absolutely control both sides of the game like Ricketts can. Of course, one of the other ones plays for Alabama.

Jackie Traina, Alabama

Traina may have been bested by Ricketts in Game 1, but she got her revenge on Tuesday night to even the series.

Big time revenge. 

Not only did Traina, who has a minuscule 1.81 ERA on the season, dominate Oklahoma hitters for six innings before slightly falling apart in the seventh (she still finished the game for the win), she also did work from the batter's box. 

In the second inning, the superstar sophomore crushed a three-run double that put her team up 4-1. The Crimson Tide never looked back.

Game 3 may be Alabama versus Oklahoma for the national championship, but when it comes down to it, it's Ricketts versus Traina.

Jennifer Fenton, Alabama

If the Crimson Tide are going to get to Ricketts, the best statistical pitcher in the country, they'll need someone more than Traina to step up.

That someone must be Jennifer Fenton.

Fenton is 7-for-19 in the tournament and serves as the table-setter for Alabama's big hitters. In Game 2's crucial win, the all-important senior got on base twice to set up both of the Crimson Tide big innings.

If she can do that again on Wednesday, Alabama has a good chance of lifting the trophy.

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