B1G Softball Tournament time: #7 seed MSU @ #2 seed MICHIGAN

Submitted by rob f on

Tune in to BTN if you haven't yet done so, as the game just started.  Betsa walked the first spartie, but mowed down the rest of the lineup with ease in the top of the first.

Bottom of 1, Michigan at bat, no score...

rob f

May 12th, 2017 at 7:24 PM ^

Rally Monkey. Just wasn't in the cards today, though. Our bats slept through the first few innings and Betsa struggled throughout, both physically and mentally. Time for Hutch to get the team rested, prepared, and repaired for the NCAA's. While we are not likely going to be serious contenders to go all the way, let's see how deep into the tourney we can go to keep careers going for our seniors and to prepare the underclassmen for future seasons. Go Blue!

Maizen

May 12th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^

I said two years ago the recruiting was taking a dip and it showed this year once all those seniors left.

In reply to by Maizen

rob f

May 12th, 2017 at 7:22 PM ^

given your posting history of showing up and spewing negative nellyisms any time Michigan teams don't satisfy you. Nothing more, nothing less.

rob f

May 12th, 2017 at 8:09 PM ^

Isn't happy unless he's bitching about Michigan teams and coaches who he judges to be inadequate. Also finds some measure of satisfaction by throwing tantrums and predicting doom and gloom. Most likely to cover for his own inadequacies.

1975Blue

May 12th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^

Bad loss.   Earlier this week a softball post was saying can't wait to play the Gophers.  I responded the first two games are not a gimmie, and I was downvoted.    

Solecismic

May 12th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^

A lot of pressure for Betsa, and she's been battling a sore arm for half the season, had her off-season restricted by a back injury. Hutch had no choice, but that was too much to ask from one player. Gutty win for the Sparties, just like yesterday. Gotta congratulate them and move on and hope Betsa has something left next weekend.

goblue85

May 12th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^

This softball team has been below average all year. Terrible loss. Will be on the road in the ncaas. I don't expect much.

Blueblood2991

May 12th, 2017 at 7:51 PM ^

Still above average, but we've been spoiled. Last year's team was highly flawed (many of the same flaws as this team), but Romero covered them up. I lost count of how many games she almost single-handedly dug us out of big deficits. Unfortunately now there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut leader on the team. Obviously replacing a once in generation type player wasn't going to be easy.

Still have the best coach and arguably the best pitcher in the league, so there's still plenty of reason to believe we can make some noise in the tournament.

rob f

May 12th, 2017 at 7:35 PM ^

Season isn't over with. The seniors on the team can make things right by going on a run of some sorts in the NCAA Tourney. The youngsters need some tournament experience. This team is experienced and resilient enough to do some damage, especially if Betsa puts today behind her. While I don't expect us to be playing for the championship, with a break or two we may be able to stretch out the season for a while.

Solecismic

May 12th, 2017 at 7:31 PM ^

I'm in. We are spoiled, no doubt. They've never finished the year ranked lower than #17 in the 20 years or so of the USA Today rankings. They'll need to win the regional (on the road) to continue that run. So we'll see. It's always a little more fun rooting for the underdog, and that's what we'll have next weekend. I don't want to miss Betsa's last games as a Wolverine, either. 100 wins... that's amazing, isn't it? I'll worry about next year later.

chatster

May 13th, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^

Although this Michigan softball team has the fewest wins since 1994, when the team finished 34-26, since 1995, Michigan softball has been to the College World Series 12 times, including three of the past four seasons. From 2001 through 2016, Michigan won its NCAA Regional every year except for 2003 and 2011. Michigan finished first or tied for first in the Big Ten regular season standings every season from 2008 through 2016.

Keep in mind that this is a team with only four seniors and it lost one of the greatest players in college softball history when Sierra Romero graduated in 2016.

Though this might be a "down season" or "step-back year," it's also worth noting that only seven of Carol Hutchins' Michigan softball teams since she became the head coach in 1985 have finished with fewer than the eleven losses suffered by the this year's team.

EDIT:  The difference between last year and this year has been the "power outage" for Michigan.  By comparison, last year’s team in 59 games scored 466 runs and had 86 homers, with a team batting average of .349; this year’s team in 52 games has scored 330 runs and has hit 50 homers, with a team batting average of .331. Last year’s team had five players hit ten or more homers; this year’s team leaders in homers, Kelly Christner and Faith Canfield each have eight homers. Tera Blanco (with 43) and Aidan Falk (with 42) lead this year’s team in RBI; last year, six players had at least 41 RBI and Sierra Romero had 79 RBI and 19 homers!

Everyone Murders

May 12th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^

Betsa can rest her arm while awaiting the NCAAs.  Not having to pitch a ton of innings in the next few days will be good for her arm - assuming the Wolverines can make a push in the NCAAs.

Not that I am happy they lost to MSU.  That blows, but that's also single-elimination softball for you.  Flukey losses occur sometimes.

Mazenbluwolverine

May 12th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^

And not enough solid hitters. I counted 3 or 4 lefties in a row who just slap the ball to ss or 3rd base and try to beat it out. If your infielders are good, thats a really low percentage at bat.

chatster

May 13th, 2017 at 7:34 AM ^

Despite their 41-11-1 record (fewest wins in a season for Michigan softball since 1994), Michigan softball was ranked 17th in the most recent NCAA poll and ranked 21st in NCAA RPI, so they probably needed to do no worse than reach the Big Ten semifinals in order to have a chance of moving into the top 16 and being selected as a regional host.  So, they’ll be a 2 seed in whatever region they go to.
 
With a 2-5 record against teams currently ranked in the top 25 and a 6-3 record against Big Ten teams with winning records (plus no games against nationally 2nd-ranked Minnesota), getting to a Super Regional this year probably will be difficult. A 13th trip to the College World Series for Carol Hutchins looks like a long-shot.
 
Their losses and the tie were to currently top-ranked Florida (2-1), South Florida (6-4), Notre Dame (6-4), 11th-ranked Texas A & M (3-0), Florida State (5-5), 10th-ranked UCLA (4-0), 16th-ranked Baylor (4-0), 18th-ranked Kentucky (5-1), Ohio State (5-0), Maryland (2-1), Wisconsin (1-0 in 11 innings) and Michigan State (5-4).  Their only wins against a team currently ranked in the top 25 were against 22nd-ranked Arizona State (3-0, 2-0).
 
Unless they somehow fall out of the top 25, which seems unlikely, the regional they’ll play in should not include one of the top eight teams in the bracket. Second-ranked Minnesota, 3rd-ranked Oregon and 8th-ranked Washington are the only northern teams besides Michigan currently ranked in the top 25.  Tennessee, UCLA, Texas A & M, Baylor, Utah and Alabama may be among the regionals where Michigan could be headed.

Wolvie3758

May 13th, 2017 at 9:12 AM ^

season by Michigan Standards But I totally expected this step backwards..We lost to many power hitters in the lineup. In almost all our losses we stranded tons of baserunners because we just dont have the bats this year.

Betsa is Betsa...shes great but  sometimes strugges against quality competition and has these late innings meltdowns .. Ive noticed with her once something goes wrong she loses her concentration and walks or hits the next batter and gets herslef in trouble.

Weve been spoiled and we havent had many seasons like this in awhile. Now we will be on the road for any NCAA games and I really dont expect us to get out of regionals..IF somehow we get to super regionals this season wouldbe a success considering all we lost last year.

 

1975Blue

May 13th, 2017 at 10:22 AM ^

You say that a step backwards was expected this season, but would you say the same step backwards is in order for next season too ?   Losing the best pitcher Betsa, and 3 starters, 2 of them All Big10.   And only one returning pitcher with any experience in Blanco. 

M and M Boys

May 13th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^

Coached (Assistant) by JESSICA MERCHANT.........2004 Big Ten Player of The Year @ MICHIGAN and Captain of Michigan's  2005 Women's College World Series Championship team.