February 20th, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 7:38 PM ^
As I am in Australia at the Great Barrier Reef for 6 weeks working and the ESPN3 doesnt work here so followed it online.....Love the Softball program prob out most consistent program....
February 20th, 2015 at 7:52 PM ^
Rub it in why don't ya.
February 20th, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^
we just escaped 2 Cat 5 Hurricanes (they call them Cyclones) one hit North of here one hit south almost AT the exact same time..was a ittle nerve wracking the last two days but amazngly no fatalties...keeping up with whats going on back home has been a nice distraction....First time ever here and went snorkeling for first time and it was breathtaking..
February 20th, 2015 at 11:20 PM ^
Stay safe!
February 20th, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^
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February 21st, 2015 at 6:37 AM ^
February 21st, 2015 at 4:38 PM ^
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February 20th, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^
February 21st, 2015 at 1:18 AM ^
But I cannot figure that game out for the life of me..its huge here though..
February 21st, 2015 at 8:29 AM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 7:34 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 7:34 PM ^
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February 20th, 2015 at 7:34 PM ^
It's early but these girls are good. Hutch might have one for the ages here, and that's saying something with her prior teams.
February 20th, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
Another win tomorrow would be good, to say the least. If we get that, it will be our last game against a top-8 team, so it will just be a matter of not taking any bad losses in order to maintain their ranking and get home field for regionals and super-regionals.
Two interesting observations from today: (1) Sophomore Megan Betsa seems to have won the #1 starting pitcher position from Seniors Sara Driesenga and Haylie Wagner, and (2) for the first time in 3 years, Sierra Romero started at a position other than shortstop: Romero swapped positions with second baseman Abby Ramirez. Not sure why, but it seems to have worked.
February 20th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^
I was at work and couldn't watch, but Betsa taking the top job seems fairly surprising. She looked shaky in Tampa for the opener and I would have put money on Wagner getting the vast majority of the starts. Even so, if she's actually looking better than Wagner and Dresenga I'd say that's a very good development since they're both talented seniors in their own right.
Also just for general info for those that don't know, Lipscomb is a solid mid-major program. While wins over USF, WKU and Lipscomb aren't exactly softball Muppets wins I'd think all should be better than the bottom half of the Big Ten.
February 20th, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^
I'm not sure that's the case; I think you have that backwards. I'm sure that the reason Wagner came in to relieve Driesenga in game 1 is because Betsa was already the starting pitcher for the Alabama game. I think that even if Driesenga had pitched a complete game that Wagner was going to start.
It seems that Betsa's 2-hitter against (then) #5 Florida State last week was the most impressive start of the season for Michigan. Given that, though, I would still be surprised to see Betsa start tomorrow. I think it will be Wagner with Betsa the first pitcher off the bench if they need a reliever.
February 20th, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 10:27 PM ^
Especially given the fact that one of Michigan's biggest weaknesses over the last 5 years or so has been holding on to late-inning leads. Unlike 2005, when a superstar pitcher like Jennie Ritter could pitch 75 percent plus of a team's innings, and about 95 percent of the most important innings, it seems like a great team can't just rely on a single starter any more.
So far, we have had Betsa pitch 25.2 innings, Wagner 23, and Driesenga 22. A nice balanced attack, for once.
February 20th, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 11:03 PM ^
I think it's more that there are three clicking at once than recruiting a bunch of pitchers. There are only four on the roster, two seniors, no juniors, one sophomore and one freshman. The 2005 roster had one pitcher from each class (no redshirts), which seems to be the ideal distribution roster management wise. Oklahoma with Ricketts and Gascoigne skipped two recruiting classes, but even a football team might do that if Andrew Luck and Cam Newton were both on the roster.
Also Alton, I definitely agree with you on Wagner coming in against Lipscomb because she was backing up both games. I could be wrong but in a three pitcher rotation that's the only way I've ever seen a coach set it up.
February 20th, 2015 at 9:52 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:57 PM ^
Yes, I got that wrong. I missed that game against Florida. I was putting Baylor at #11 (per the ESPN poll) rather than #7 (per the USA Today poll). I was wrong. Or, I said something "utterly false." Depending on how you want to put that...
Yep, there are several games against the #11-#19 group left as well; it's just that "top tier" top-8 competition that we won't see between March 5 and May 28 that I was thinking about.
February 20th, 2015 at 11:17 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 7:38 PM ^
They are legit. Only loss was to #1 Florida 2-1. 3 top 10 wins since, I just wish the games were on TV.
February 20th, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 7:42 PM ^
At what point to we stop calling these wins upsets? These gals are Legit™.
February 20th, 2015 at 10:22 PM ^
I thought the exact same thing. When you win against the best often they aren't upsets.
Would be fun to see Harbaugh show up with his glove.
February 20th, 2015 at 10:35 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 7:45 PM ^
at Bama..3 games against perennial power Arizona State two in Tempe, rematch against Florida and Baylor another elite team...we are playing a TOUGH non-con schedule and winning them so ths looks like it could be a great year if they can maintain
February 20th, 2015 at 8:05 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 8:21 PM ^
Awesome day! So happy to see Susalla coming up big for the team. She's showed great potential since her freshman year, she's put in her time and waited her turn, and now she's starting to play at a high level. Hope it continues through the season!
February 20th, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
this thread wasn't started by either WD or MGo Softball. Get it together, guys.
February 20th, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:52 PM ^
accepts no excuses so neither do I.
/s
February 20th, 2015 at 9:52 PM ^
accepts no excuses so neither do I.
/s
February 20th, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
Looks like softball will be something to see if and when the snow melts. Go Blue!!
February 20th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:46 PM ^
At least some U-M teams won.
February 21st, 2015 at 8:02 AM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 9:55 PM ^
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February 20th, 2015 at 10:02 PM ^
Michigan's win over Alabama was the 500th road win in program history.
Incredible all-time road record of 500-225. The .690 road all-time win percentage is the best among ALL Women's sports at Michigan. The next-best all-time road win percentage belongs to Water Polo at .669 (85-42 road record)
They have a chance to hit 500 all-time neutral site wins this weekend, also. Their record sits at 498-191-3. They play Lipscomb tomorrow and James Madison on Sunday in Tuscaloosa.
February 21st, 2015 at 8:04 AM ^
February 20th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^
I'm watching a replay of the game on Watch ESPN now, and this SEC/ESPN television coverage is horrible. I think they've missed nearly every play. The camera and shot is always behind the play and late. I have new respect for BTN now.
February 21st, 2015 at 3:49 AM ^