Michigan Softball vs. Fresno State: Opening Round NCAA Regional Game Thread

Submitted by JWG Wolverine on

The NCAA Softball Tournament has arrived! Michigan is playing Fresno State in Seattle tonight at 9:00 ET on ESPN2. Good luck ladies, hoping for an exciting run!

Enjoy the game and Go Blue!

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Solecismic

May 19th, 2017 at 9:13 PM ^

Unfortunately, not on television yet - just on their apps. Waiting for Tennessee to dispatch its first-round opponent. Betsa threw 20 pitches in striking out the side in the first. Morgan Howe was one of the three, but Miranda Rohleder had a double in there. Go Blue!

Joined: 11/27/2016

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Gameboy

May 19th, 2017 at 9:16 PM ^

Checking in from Husky Softball Stadium. Betsa's control is a bit shaky as she gives up a deep double off the wall after the first out. Her speed variation is good as most of the swings are way out front. 0-0 after top of first.

Joined: 11/28/2010

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Solecismic

May 19th, 2017 at 9:21 PM ^

I'll indulge this once: how does Dung look? Two strikeouts in the first, and Canfield is not an easy strikeout. Are they at least getting good swings?

Joined: 11/27/2016

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Solecismic

May 19th, 2017 at 9:34 PM ^

Out of all the opening games in this tournament, the only 1 or 2 seed in a regional to lose its game so far is Ohio State. Dramatic comeback with two out in the sixth, but their defense fell apart in the seventh. Illinois beat Marshall in 12 innings, but Wonderly had to throw 173 pitches. They get #14 Kentucky tomorrow. Minnesota beat Louisiana Tech, 11-3, with Groenewegen only having to throw two innings. They'll face #16 Alabama tomorrow. Wisconsin trails Missouri early in a 2/3 game, winner probably facing #3 Oregon.

Joined: 11/27/2016

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Gameboy

May 19th, 2017 at 9:40 PM ^

Man, that could have been big. Dung loads the bases on walks with 1 out. We do get a run as the second runner gets tagged out at home.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 9656

Solecismic

May 19th, 2017 at 9:40 PM ^

How was the decision to send Uden? (two out, Peters singled up the middle, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead, but Uden was thrown out at the plate).

Joined: 11/27/2016

MGoPoints: 6962

Gameboy

May 19th, 2017 at 9:44 PM ^

I think that was the right call. Only a perfect throw gers her and it was a perfect throw. With softball, I think you need to be pretty aggressive.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 9656

Gameboy

May 19th, 2017 at 9:46 PM ^

Betsa looks pretty strong after the shaky first. The scouting on the last batter was perfect as the right fielder was right where that soft liner was headed.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 9656

Gameboy

May 19th, 2017 at 10:24 PM ^

As that foul ball was going out, I was thinking she should just let that drop. It was going to be a very difficult throw after running full speed perpendicularly.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 9656

Solecismic

May 19th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^

The offense definitely broke through in the fifth. Starting to get their timing against Dung, who is at 90 pitches. Big hit - solid hit - from Falk. Now if Betsa can only avoid the free passes, looks good.

Joined: 11/27/2016

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Wolvie3758

May 19th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^

On Fuego!!!  Exactlty what we need...lets find a way to get one more insurance run  in Bottom 6....just to breath easier

Joined: 12/12/2010

MGoPoints: 6338

RoseInBlue

May 19th, 2017 at 11:24 PM ^

Best case scenario: The bats come alive and Betsa no hits the Huskies.  Twice (most likely).  I'm really just hoping the bats come alive because while Washington has no real superstars, they consistently put the bat to the ball up and down the lineup.  They'll be hard to keep off the scoreboard.

Worst case scenario: The bats continue to be sluggish and Washington's obnoxiously consistent lineup gets enough through on Betsa to take the next game.  We eke out a win against Montana (again, the sluggish bats but I don't see us losing to Montana outside of disaster) and still can't get them going to drop a second to Washington.

Joined: 02/21/2016

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JWG Wolverine

May 19th, 2017 at 11:21 PM ^

I think that win was a good start. Showed the strengths and weaknesses that we have and need to improve upon game by game. Hopefully they can keep it up!

Joined: 01/07/2017

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Solecismic

May 19th, 2017 at 11:27 PM ^

Hopefully, nothing damaged with Betsa. She looked really good against a decent team today. 121 pitches, one hit, four walks, 13 strikeouts. I'd imagine she's starting tomorrow against Washington. Wisconsin became the second team to upset a 1- or 2-seed in a regional, beating Missouri. And San Jose State just became the third.

Joined: 11/27/2016

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Solecismic

May 20th, 2017 at 12:25 AM ^

The risk is that it would almost certainly be Fresno State again. Of course, they have the same issue with Dung. And the winner has to beat Washington two straight. So I think Blanco gets the start if Washington wins tomorrow. But Betsa would relieve if it's close late. Hopefully, we don't have to worry about this. I think it is important that Blanco gets some work here, though. Next year, she'll need to step up, even if Beaubien is ready to be a #1 right from February. Just throwing a few good innings would do wonders for her confidence heading into her senior year.

Joined: 11/27/2016

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Alton

May 20th, 2017 at 8:11 AM ^

You know, you might be right about that.  Hutch has been known in tournaments to start the #2 with the intention of pulling her as soon as she gets into the least amount of trouble.  On the other hand, that was back when she could count on the bats to cover up any weakness in her #2 pitcher.

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