How many innings are played in a regulation NCAA softball game?

A regulation NCAA softball game is played for seven innings. This length has been established to provide enough time for teams to demonstrate their skills and strategies while maintaining a reasonable game duration. In a typical seven-inning game, teams have the opportunity to showcase their offensive and defensive capabilities across multiple turns at bat and innings. If the score is tied at the end of seven innings, extra innings may be played to determine a winner, allowing for a competitive resolution.

The other options reflect different formats or circumstances seen in other levels of play or variations of the game, but for NCAA regulation, the standard remains firmly set at seven innings.