How many innings are there in college softball? Exploring NCAA rules for the sport

The college softball season is in full swing, as the NCAA Regionals took place this past weekend. Sixteen teams have locked up their spot in the NCAA Super Regionals, which are set to begin on Thursday, May 23. They will have the opportunity to qualify for the Women's College World Series, which is slated to begin on May 30.

The Texas Longhorns face the Texas A&M Aggies in the Austin Super Regional. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Sooners - looking to win their fourth consecutive title and sixth in eight seasons - and Florida State Seminoles clash in the Norman Super Regional.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide meet in the Knoxville Super Regional, as the Gainesville Super Regional pits the Florida Gators against the Baylor Bears.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Arizona Wildcats are set to clash in the Stillwater Super Regional, while the Los Angeles Super Regional features the UCLA Bruins and Georgia Bulldogs.

Finally, the Missouri Tigers and Duke Blue Devils meet in the Columbia Super Regional, as the Stanford Cardinal and LSU Tigers face one another in the Stanford Super Regional.

As the postseason heats up, take a look at how many innings there are in college softball below.

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How many innings are there in college softball?

College softball games are seven innings, but that's not always the case. In addition to extra innings, college softball has a mercy rule. The NCAA's website describes that as:

"If one team is up by eight or more runs after five or more equal innings, the plate umpire may declare the run-ahead rule. These complete innings must be played unless the home team reaches the eight-run lead while at bat — so technically, the shortest a game could go is four-and-a-half innings. If the visiting team reaches the eight-run limit in the fifth or any inning after, the home team must be allowed to bat in the bottom half of the inning." [h/t NCAA.com]

The rule remains in place for the NCAA Tournament and College World Series, up until the championship series.

In the best-of-three championship series, the NCAA divisional softball committees can remove the run-ahead rule, but the decision must be announced before the tournament begins.