Michigan SB wins again; this time vs Minny 4-2.
The Michigan Softball team eeked out another close victory today at Alumni Field. The girls battled every inning and took the lead in the 5th inning by scoring 3 runs. Game-time temperature was 60 degrees under mostly cloudy skies with zero wind.
Bree Evans could not extend her 19 game hit streak, going 0-3 on the day. The Michigan consecutive game hit streak record is held by Nicole Sappingfield who completed this task earlier this year at 20 consecutive games with a hit.
Jordan Taylor was on the rubber today and pitched very well despite getting behind early. She finished the game with 1 ER off 6 hits, striking out 5, 2 HPB and walking none
Dorian Shaw was the offensive hero today by going 2 for 3 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored. She recorded the game winning RBI in the 5th inning with a double off a 3-2 pitch. Colie Sappingfield scored from 1st. Dorian scored later in the inning.
Colie went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored. Amanda Chidester went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Lindsay Doyle went 1 for 3 and scored the tying run.
Today was a fun game to watch. Minny was up 2-0 and had all the momentum. But the karma was with us today and a nearly sold out crowd. This weeked is Veteran's Appreciation Weekend.
In other softball action, #1 ASU beat Washington earlier today 6-4. #3 Texas was bitch-slapped by Texas A&M yesterday. #4 Florida spanked #5 Tennessee.
This loss by Tennessee could mean that we will be paired with Tennessee in the Supers. Many think the NCAA has a "love-fest" with Michigan-Tennessee matchup. I dont think Tennessee will drop enough to warrant a #15 national seed. I still think it will be ND.
Never watched a UM softball game before, but caught the comeback in the 5th inning while at Pizza House - team manufactured some nice runs
Hmmm-Only 5K's for JT-did she look right? She looked real good last time I saw her on the BTN against Ohio was JT her "normal" self?
Freaking Indiana has won 15 games in a row (1-0 today against Northwestern) WTF!?!
Ok so we have Gophers and Sparty(4-10 B10) all at home left and Hoosiers have Cats (on the road) again tomorrow and finish with Boiler (6-5-1 B10) at home.
Indiana has come out of NO WHERE!
Your thoughts please and what is the tie breaker if the reocrds are identical end of season (we split with Hossiers)?
I will let somebody who knows more about softball answer the question about JT--she seemed just fine to me, stepping it up when she needed to--but I can answer the tiebreaker question...
Technically, the tiebreaker is (1) head-to-head record, (2) record against the #3 team in the conference, (3) record against the #4 team in the conference, (4) record against the #5 team in the conference, etc. Michigan's other loss was to Iowa, who is now in 5th place. Indiana's other loss was to Minnesota, who is now in 6th place. So I guess Indiana would win the "tiebreaker" and get the conference's autobid if the season ended right now, because they have a better record against 5th-place Iowa.
But the tiebreaker is only a technicality. I am pretty sure that the teams would be considered co-champions, they would both get trophies, and of course both teams will get bids to the tournament, so it doesn't really matter which one is the autobid and which one is the at large bid.
was to the #5 team and Indiana's was to the #6 team doesnt that make OUR
loss better than IU's? for tie breaking purposes? Also Mich-Tenn wont happen
in the Super Regionals because they will NOT be seeded to make that happen
both teams will be top 8 seeds so that matchup wouldnt happen until the World Series if both
make it that far...Michigan is fighting ASU for the #1 Overall seed right now..and we
have the head to head matchup win over Arizona State but they have a better
schedule strength playing in the Pac 10...UMs win over the Pac 10 Champs could
get them the #1 seed if the win the final 3 games regardless of what ASU does..Either
way Michigan will have a very High seed
The fact that Indiana (2 wins, 0 losses) will have a better record against the #5 team than Michigan (1 win, 1 loss) will give Indiana the tiebreaker. I don't claim that it's logical--it's not. It is a pretty common tiebreaker, though. The Big Ten uses the same tiebreaker in basketball.
It's pretty strange to think that we might care who wins a race for 5th place between Iowa and Minnesota. I would rather Michigan be outright champions than co-champions, but if they are co-champions, I don't think it matters in the least who is technically the autobid winner--it won't affect the NCAA seeding or selection process.
As far as Michigan having a high seed, I'm still a little worried about that. The RPI only has Michigan at #10 this year because of their atypically weak non-conference schedule. I don't think Michigan will be out of the top 8, but I think they might be in the 4th to 7th range. Notice also that Tennessee is at #12 in the RPI. I think that there is some chance that Tennessee is NOT in the top 8.
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/softball/d1/ncaa_womens_softball_rpi
Looking at the rankings, I think a Big 12 (Missouri or Oklahoma) or a Pac 10 team (UCLA or Washington) would be most likely Super-regional opponents, but Michigan does have to work on winning the regional before we worry about the super-regional. I think It won't be as easy as it was the last few years, when we had Nemitz as our #2 pitcher.
If UM wins the next 3 games and finishes 51-4 (Best record in the nation), Co Big 10 champs with wins over
the Pac 10 champs(ASU) and Last years runner ups Arizona(8-0). It would be Very
difficult not to award them a #1 overall seed..as long they are top 8 Im happy because
that would get them a Super Regional Host.. RPI is one tool used, not the only tool.
Michigans unbreaten Road record wont hurt either...Many of the other top 10 teams
have had recent losses with more to come and conference tourneys upcoming..For
a rebuilding year Michigan has had about as outstanding a year as one could have possibly
wished for....its all gravy now...GO BLUE!!!
good points here. The Tournament Committee uses whatever they feel like using as a guide to seedings. RPI is only one data point. Our road schedule is very good so that helps. Overall best record helps too.
I still dont think we will get a #1 overall seed. I would not be suprised if they award the #1 to ASU and #2 to SEC champ, #3 to Big 12 Champ and then we get the #4. That will be just fine with me since we would host a Super.
I am looking forward to a little tail-gating at Wilpon for two straight weekends.
although I think by virtue of its head to head win over ASU UM will get the #2 Overall
seed...having said that it would shock me in the least if they get the #1...Heres to
Washington ..Beat ASU today!
If ASU loses to either Washington or Stanford next week, we will be #1 and probably #1 seed.
unchartered waters here. The Big 10 ended the year-end tourney a few years ago. The tie breaker rules are not on the Big 10 webiste that I could find.
Alton is correct. Even the tie breaker could be an issue because of the parity in the conference this year.
JT is fine. Minny is on a roll right now. I am not worried.
Michigan-Tennessee is Grudge Match for the NCAAs.
Also, I love it when A&M beats Texas because I hate Texas and hope that they will pay for their arrogance during ExpansionFest 2010.
I agree. It was a fun game to watch too. A/M dogged them out hard. It really wasnt close. I am not a Texaas fan at all.
Thanks MGoSoftball. I appreciate your thoughtful and informative posts.
Softball is a game that most people do not, nor care to understand. Softball ranks about six or seven on the list of favorite sports. Softball strategy is unlike any other game. It is difficult to follow and many become disinterested early. But its been in my blood for 20 years.
the games are great, the intensity is amazing and the players are REALLY skilled..I fell in Love with UM softball about 20 yrs ago..I live near Columbus GA and Michigan came down every year for the Leadoff Classic with the nations TOP teams every year...Michigan was always VERY competitive..winning the tournament a few times and almost ALWAYS making the Gold Medal Bracket finals with other Top programs...Ive been hooked every since...
Im a diehard UM sports fan and one of my all time great moments was Samanthas Findlays
3 run Homer to beat UCLA for the national championship..One of the BEST and most nerve wracking softball games EVER..that game was lost 5 times but somehow Michigan scratched and clawed and finally won it in the 10th!