Softball doubleheader vs #22 ASU (2PM EST) and #1 Florida (4:30PM EST) - Open thread
The #2/#3 Wolverines, winners of nineteen straight, begin the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California today with two big time matchups.
First is ASU, who Michigan swept last weekend in Tempe. They also ended each of the past two ASU seasons, so the Sun Devils will be looking for revenge.
The second game features the two hottest teams in the country. In this one it will be Michigan looking for revenge after UF defeated the Wolverines in extra innings in the season opener. It remains the only loss of the season.
There is no live video available for either game today, but you may listen to the UF game HERE. I'll look for an ASU stream and update when I find one. Update: Looks like no audio available for ASU either.
GAME DAY! Ready to play two? #YouBetsa #GoBlue
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) March 5, 2015Now back to tightness - Michigan can't get anything, and ASU will start the B8 with a runner on second. We moved ours to third, but couldn't get any further.
So what you're saying is that I should stop working, because obviously I'm causing our girls bad luck.
Bottom 8 0-0
Edit: ASU walk off 2 run homer. :P
shake it off ladies, time to get ready for Florida
Crap. Amber Freeman is the one who ended it. Same player that Doyle robbed last season.
No time to mope. On to the next one.
I haz sad.
Ugh, what a heartbreaker. Still, if we can win the next one against Florida, it's still a successful day. Can't win every game in a long season.
Absolutely. Still took two of three against ASU and a win against UF would do wonders for post-season positioning.
Tough way to lose a game...Missed their chance in the 6th....Bats better wake up against Florida..would be a bad day to lose two after the Hot start...
Definitely agree, offense needs to get in gear. After the explosion last week, it's felt a little lethargic - even last night against Cal State Fullerton, we just puttered around until the 7th. Time to get that fire back.
Edit: The defense definitely played well enough to win, too. Shut-out through 7 is a great effort, even though there were some jams in there.
Hopefully we'll make it back against UF.
Yeah but the big ten sucks at softball, any loss we pick up now puts more pressure on needing to be perfect to host a super regional. Unless we finish the non-conference part of the schedule with under like 4 losses we are looking at a situation where 3-4 losses in big ten play could easily knock us out of a super regional host spot. That is a really small margin for error.
Let's go, ladies. Pound the Gators.
Interesting; Wagner will bat 7th and Michigan will go without the DP. I think that's only the 3rd time this season that the pitcher will start the game in the batting lineup.
WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Romo finally sees a few strikes and hits a two run shot!
Pitching to Romo? Questionable decision. :) Her OBP has gotta be getting close to .700!
I guess Hutch knew what she was doing throwing Wagner into the line-up! Way to help your own cause, Haylie!
That ump better learn quick. I know I would NOT want to be on the business end of Carol Hutchins' wrath.
One player has been hit eleven times this year and twice today. Pretty cheap, but at least Michigan got out of the inning with a lead.
It's frustrating, but it cuts both ways. A couple years ago, we walked off against Louisville in the regional on a Caitlin Blanchard HBP where she just stood in there and took one on the arm. As long as the rule is written that way, teams will try to take advantage.
FYI, in ncaa softball you don't have to make any attempt to avoid the ball as long as you're in the batter's box. In ncaa baseball you do have to make an attempt to avoid the pitch, otherwise it's just a ball.
Good thing Wagner got that hit. Florida's O starting to get it going, lead down to 4-2.
Rotten 3rd inning, but Michigan gets out of it still with the lead, 4-3. Offense can't slow down, gotta keep generating that run-support.
We just seem snake bitten..now 4-3...if we lose another end of game walk off to them Im going to Scream...we are DUE to beat these guys SOMETIME!!!!
Dang it, I've gotta run. :( Keep the good juju going here, all of you! Go Blue!
6-4 Florida.
Everything has gone wrong.
Edit: 7-4