Softball Heads Into Big Ten Play

Submitted by South Bend Wolverine on

Sierra Romero

Romero continues to lead the way with her bat.

So I have grad school stuff to work on, but I don’t want to do that.  Consequently, you all get more softball coverage!  Hopefully that’s what you wanted…

In any case, with the postponement of today’s game against BGSU, the scheduled home opener, the bulk of the softball team’s non-conference schedule has come to an end.  They still have a mid-week match-up against Western Michigan on April 8th as well as the make-up game for today, whenever that might be [update: this will be next Tuesday, March 25], but all the most serious opponents are behind us, and we can take a look at where things stand heading into Big Ten play.  (All this comes with the caveat that I have yet to watch the team play, so I’m working off of stats & recaps.  I’d love to hear some more comments from those who have gotten the chance to take in a game or two!)

Record, Postseason Outlook

As usual, the team put itself through the wringer, playing in six different tournaments/invitationals/etc., traveling to Florida, California, Louisiana, and Kentucky to take on many of the nation’s best teams.  Michigan’s 19-6 record could have been a little better, but not much.  The only bad loss was against an unranked and mediocre Houston outfit, and that came in the middle of the Judi Garman Classic where Michigan was facing a murderer’s row of top-ten teams.  A little loss of focus is perhaps understandable.  All the other losses came against ranked teams, and except for one loss to Louisiana-Lafayette at ULL’s home ballpark, they were all against top-ten teams.  Two of those losses came in extra innings, including a heartbreaker in the season opener, when Michigan lost a 4-run lead in the 7th against Florida.  When you play teams of this caliber, you’re going to take some losses, but it’s worth it for the wins you do manage and for the experience the players gain.

With the bad out of the way, let’s take a look at the positives from the non-conference slate.  The Wolverines have accumulated five wins against ranked teams, including three against top-ten teams (Kentucky, UCLA, and Arizona).  The UCLA win is definitely the crown jewel in Michigan’s resume right now, as the Bruins have torched their non-conference slate to the tune of a 26-1 record.  After pushing the Bruins to extras before falling 4-1 on March 4th, the Wolverines came back the next day and torched UCLA to the tune of a 9-4 pounding which remains their only loss.  Heading into Big Ten play, Michigan finds itself ranked #6 in the nation in the most recent poll.  As long as the Maize & Blue stay in the top 16, we’ll have a regional in Ann Arbor, and if we stay in the top 8, we could end up hosting a super-regional as well, should we be fortunate enough to get that far.  This is where Michigan wants to be at this point in the season.

Player Performances

From the start of last season, conversations about individual player performances on Michigan’s softball team have begun with one player: Sierra Romero.  She has not disappointed this season, leading the team with an absolutely absurd .493 batting average, good for ninth in the nation, with only a couple other major-conference players ahead of her.  She has done this despite being walked more than a quarter of the time (24 walks to 67 at-bats), showing great plate discipline, only striking out 9 times thus far.  While her six home-runs are a little off last year’s record-setting pace, this is to be expected, as terrified pitchers do everything they can to stay out of her way.  At the end of the day, Romero is following up her Big Ten Player of the Year campaign in grand style (she has also improved defensively, with a .015 improvement in fielding percentage over last season).

While the conversation starts with Romero, it certainly does not end there.  Eight different Wolverine batters are hitting over .320 (two of those have under 30 at-bats, the other six all have more than 60).  Colie Sappingfield has been doing great work in her usual lead-off spot [edit: batting second], betting on-base over 40% of the time and batting just shy of .400.  She even managed a home run, which for a pure slap-hitter must have come as quite the surprise!  The highest-impact freshman on offense has been Abby Ramirez, hitting .324 in 67 at bats.  She could use a little more plate discipline, having struck out 9 times to only 6 walks, but that’s the sort of thing this coaching staff can easily handle.  That kind of hitting right out of the gate as a freshman shows a lot of promise.  Overall, Michigan boasts the #18 team batting average (.329) in the nation and the #46 scoring offense (5.56 runs per game).  Both of these numbers may very well go up as the Wolverines head into a weak Big Ten slate (more on that in a moment).

Unfortunately, Lauren Sweet hasn’t quite been able to match her play from late in the season last year, batting only .224.  However, last year she did much worse in the non-conference schedule, and then turned it on once Big Ten play hits.  If she makes a similar leap in conference play this year, she could quickly find herself as one of the top offensive threats in the conference.  The bigger disappointment has been the pitching of last year’s ace, Sara Driesenga, which has really tailed off from last season.  Her ERA currently stands at .319 [edit: 3.19] and she has yet to find her first win on the season.  I haven’t heard any injury news (others may know something I don’t), so I’m not sure how to explain it.  She has been playing better of late, however, and has found some success in a relief role, notching 3 saves on the season.  Hopefully she too will make some improvements in Big Ten play.

Driesenga’s struggles have been offset by the rest of the pitching staff, however.  Freshman Megan Betsa has faced a true baptism by fire, having pitched against many of the nation’s elite teams.  While she has struggled at times, she has managed a respectable 2.27 ERA with 63 Ks to 23 BBs.  The 63 Ks are especially impressive, and she leads the team in that category, despite having pitched more than 25 innings fewer than Wagner.  She will certainly be an important piece going forward.

The biggest factor defensively, however, has been the resurgence of southpaw Haylie Wagner.  After struggling through injuries last season as losing her role as the ace of the staff, she has reclaimed that spot with a vengeance.  There are currently only 20 D-I pitchers with ERAs under 1.00, and Wagner clocks in at #17 in this crowd, currently holding opponents to a stingy .93, more than 1.5 better than she managed last season.  She currently boasts a 13-0 record with 8 complete games, and leads the team in almost every pitching category.  If she keeps up anything like this level of play, she stands a great chance of reclaiming her Big Ten Pitcher of the Year crown.

Big Ten Outlook

As usual, the Wolverines come into the Big Ten as the favorites to win the conference.  Competition may be stiffer this year than usual, however, with Nebraska and Minnesota both joining the Maize & Blue in the top-25.  The Huskers & Gophers haven’t taken on as challenging of non-conference slates as Michigan has, but both have notched Ws against at least one ranked team and stand to give Michigan a run for their money in the Big Ten.

Despite these challengers, I expect Michigan to take the crown, if for no other reason than that the schedule sets up much more easily for Michigan than their challengers.  A mid-April home series against the Golden Gophers is Michigan’s only test against the top third of the conference, and a road series against Illinois represents the only time Michigan will travel to face a team with a winning record in the non-conference schedule.  The Fighting Illini have managed a 14-7 record, but have yet to beat a ranked team.  Other than 12-10 Wisconsin, whom the Wolverines get at home to close out the season, the rest of Michigan’s schedule is comprised of teams with losing records, some of them truly dismal.

Without a doubt, the Minnesota series is the key point in the conference slate.  If the Wolverines can take care of business against the teams they should beat and take at least 2 out of 3 from the Gophers, the road to a seventh straight Big Ten Championship should be fairly clear.  I can’t predict a perfect conference record, because that has never been done in Michigan history, but I have a tough time picking out more than 2 or 3 potential losses.

If that can be managed, the Wolverines will be well-positioned to head into post-season play with plenty of momentum and experience.  Weather-permitting, Big Ten play begins at the Wilpon Complex this Friday at 4 PM, as 8-17 Indiana comes to town.  I wish I could be there; for those of you in Southeast Michigan, get out and support the team!

Comments

Hail To The Blue

March 18th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^

One thing of note, Colie is the #2 hitter behind Doyle, not the lead off hitter. Small thing though. And while Romero's fielding percentage is marginally better this year, it could be great, as all of her errors are throwing errors on routine grounders. Those absolutely need to be cut out, because she has a great glove, but a wildly inaccurate arm.

As for Driesenga, I don't believe it's an injury. It must just be something mental. Definitely a strange trend, she has struggled thus far.

An interesting stat regarding intentionally walking Romero: after a Romero IBB, Caitlin Blanchard is 2-2 with 4 RBI. That is crucial for protecting Romero in the lineup, and Blanchard has not disappointed thus far.

South Bend Wolverine

March 18th, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^

Good catch on the Sappingfield point.  She has bat lead-off often in the past, so I just assumed that was still the case without looking it up.  Post above has been edited.

That detail on Romero is also interesting, and it doesn't entirely surprise me.  She's such a phenomenal athlete, I would expect her to be able to get a glove on just about anything in her area.  Hopefully she can get those throwing errors under control, because we'll need great defense going forward, especially in the post-season. The good thing is that she improve dramatically over the course of last season, so there's reason to hope the same can happen again.

Blanchard definitely deserves to be singled out for praise a well.  She's now in her second year of being Romero's protection, and consistently punishes opponents for putting Romo on base.  That is a huge contribution that we should not take for granted!

rob f

March 18th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^

followed the gals up from the south and they can carry their momentum into the B1G season uninterrupted by weather-related postponements.

MICHIGAN SOFTB…

March 19th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^

Haylie Wagner has emerged this year after last years injuries, she came back healthy, in great shape and is doing her part to help the team.  Her ERA is the lowest in the Big 10, at 0.93, 16th in the nation, pretty impressive.  I think this team has what it takes to go the distance, they just need to be consistent in their hitting, and the other two pitchers need to do their part.

South Bend Wolverine

March 19th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^

I think this just goes to show that last season was an aberration for Wagner due to the injury bug.  It's unfortunate that she lost a big chunk of her sophomore campaign to that, but it's great having her back on her form from two years ago when she was B10 Pitcher of the Year.  Hopefully she keeps it up through the conference slate!

Vince Prygoski

March 19th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^

Michigan softball always has a good to great chance at a national championship. IMO the only reason they have only won one so far is because they are an up north team. Michigan's 2005 national title is still the only one ever won by a team from a cold part of the country.If not for that regional disadvantage, I think Coach Hutch and her program would have multiple NC's.

FlaBlue2

March 20th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^

Warm weather softball teams have significant advantages, especially in recruiting and scheduling.  Before Arizona State played Michigan on Mar 2 at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, CA, it had played its first 24 games at home (21-3).  These games help Arizona State build its record for NCAA seedings for the NCAA Regional and Superregional tournaments.  Imagine if Michigan could start its season with 24 straight home games.  Except for the Judi Garman games, where ASU went 5-0, ASU's only remaining away games will be at Pac 12 opponents.  Michigan's success in recruiting top players and its success in the pre-Big 10 season is a testament to the softball  program developed by Coach Hutch and her excellent assistant coaches. 

South Bend Wolverine

March 21st, 2014 at 1:49 AM ^

Great points all around.  It's also worth noting that, since the Big Ten isn't a power conference, if we want the quality wins to claim a good tourney seed, we have to travel all across the country and play great teams at their stadiums (or at least nearby).  The West Coast powers get to take easier non-conf. schedules and take that time to continue to work on any number of things - they don't have to face top-quality opposition until they really want to.

What is really remarkable to me - following on your point about the coaching staff - is how every year this ridiculous cross-country road trip becomes a proving ground & bonding experience for the team.  By the time Big Ten season rolls around, they are tested & they've come together.  It takes a great coach & great, high-character young women to take advantage of adversity & grow through it year in & year out.  That's what makes this team such a privilege to watch.

Vince Prygoski

March 19th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^

The home opener against Bowling Green was postponed, and looking at the weather forecast i am not so sure all or any of this weekend's games against Indiana will happen. Sometimes i think a retractable roof might be a good idea for both the softball and baseball venues. Not only would it be good for the latter part of the season, then Michigan could actually HOST some games earlier in the season.

FlaBlue2

March 20th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^

On WTKA's Michigan Insider today, Coach Hutch confirmed Hail To The Blue's predictions.  She said the field is ready to go due to the new artificial turf and artificial dirt and the hard work of the grounds crew in clearing the ice off of the field.  She also said the Sunday game may be moved to Friday for a Friday DH due to projected freezing temperatures on Sunday. All three Indiana gams will be streamed on-line on the Big Ten Digital Network.  Here is a link to the Michigan softball games scheduled to be shown on the BTN and BTDN networks this season

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/031914aaa.html