Softball Fall Ball Schedule

Submitted by Hail To The Blue on

The Michigan Softball team has released their fall ball schedule for September/October. For you MGoBloggers in Northern Michigan, the weekend of September 27-28 features four games against Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and Oakland U at Traverse City West High School in Traverse City, Michigan. This is a great opportunity to see college softball up close for only a few dollars (supports HS athletics in the Grand Traverse area) and interact with the players, as the setting of the games is quite intimate. It's also a chance to see the five Michigan freshmen for the first time: IF/OF Aidan Falk, IF Taylor Swearingen, IF Amanda Vargas, OF Nikki Wald, and P Tera Blanco. Blanco joins the three returning Michigan pitchers from last year: seniors Haylie Wagner and Sara Driesenga, and sophomore Megan Betsa. The vacant 1B position left open by the departure of Caitlin Blanchard should be a battle between the lanky Swearingen and Falk, who could also slot in out in the outfield. 

For those of you closer to Ann Arbor, there will be a three game series against the Kentucky Wildcats on October 4 and 5 at Alumni Field. Kentucky holds a #6 ranking nationally and is coming off a Women's College World Series appearance. Michigan won the lone meeting last year, upsetting Kentucky 3-0 behind a dominant perfomance on the mound from Haylie Wagner. This fall series, which is FREE ADMISSION, is must-see softball. Normally a three game series between #10 and #6 is a Super Regional matchup. This is going to be good, competitive softball. 

If anyone has any questions or needs more info, I'm happy to help, and you can also check out the link below. I hope to see some of you either in Traverse City, or out at Alumni Field! Go Blue!

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/090814aaa.html

South Bend Wolverine

September 12th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^

I saw this the other day - I'm just delighted that we're bringing in some top competition in the fall.  At least for the last few years, all we've done is beat up directional schools, which is fun, but doesn't do a whole lot.  This will give the team (esp. all these new freshmen) a great chance to get acclimated to elite competition.  Given how weak most of the B10 is, we need to seize every chance we get, be it fall ball or non-conf, to play top teams in order to prepare for the NCAA tournament.  Can't wait to see how the team does!