M Softball Blanks #7 Arizona 8-0, now 28-1
The University of Michigan Softball team passed yet another huge test today in Fullerton Ca. They are playing in the Judi Garman Classic. They beat #7 Arizona 8-0
Bree Evans was the offensive hero today by going 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs. Ashley Lane, Brandi Virgil, Amanda Chidester, Caitlin Blanchard, Lindsay Doyle and Marley Powers (2) all scored today.
Jordan Taylor was un-human with her pitches today. She scattered 7 hits with 9 Ks and 1 BB and threw 103 pitches. The question was asked the other day whether Jordan was as good and Jeannie. That answer is getting tougher to answer.
This key win should ease the anxiety of many fans who think we had a very easy schedule thus far. Beating #6 Arizona State and now #7 Arizona, look out.
My original prediction still holds. We will have 2 losses going into the Big 10 season, with 1 maybe 2 losses in the Big 10.
Its great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
Wow, now these are impressive wins. It looks like the Wolverines are playing their best against the best, and that's a great quality in a team. Sweeping the Arizona squads is major - Pac Ten softball is where it's at.
By the way, I'm the one who asked if Jordan was better than Jennie. After today, her argument got a lot better, that's for sure. Jordan has a chance to get more recognition since Cat Oosterman isn't around to hog the spotlight.
How are you? Jordan is on fire. Her pitches are spot-on. Her K to BB ratio is getting better as the season moves along. She may go down as the best M Pitcher in a long time, maybe ever.
The best aspect of this team is that everyone contributes. Now Jordan and Dorian are the leaders, no doubt; but many of the youngsters are not too far behind.
We were 1 run from a mercy rule win against the #7 team in the nation. I hope everyone really understands what a special team we have here.
I'm mostly in the "reading and absorbing" phase of appreciating softball and understanding what is going on. Thanks for your excellent posts on the softball team; I feel a little smarter every time I read one.
Softball is a game like no other. It is rare to have mercy rule wins since pitchers are so dominating. Run manufacturing is so important; slap bunts, hit and runs, and straight steals are the norm.
It is rare to have someone hit 1 home run for every 10 plate apprearances. Dorian and Ashley are at about 9 to 1 currently. That number should improve once we get into some weaker pitching in the Big 10.
It is also important to remember that scoring position is 3rd base and not 2nd base in baseball. So it is critical to get runnings over to 3rd base with less than 2 outs
I knew the importance of 3rd base. In my own watching of Random Company Teams and Youth Teams, I remember a lot of long ground balls springing runners on 3rd base to scamper for home, even if it sacrificed the runner going to first. I definitely didn't know that home runs are so rare because pitchers are so good, or that run manufacturing is key in today's game.
For those who wondered what happened to Stephanie Kirkpatrick, she had knee surgery and is out for the year.
http://michigandaily.com/sports/knapp-make-shortstop-position-her-own-season
Wonder whether she will get a medical redshirt.
I posted this a week ago. She should receive a redshirt. She is only a junior so she will be in school but she would have to stay another year. I dont know if she is ready to graduate early or not.. The NCAA is a little more lenient with woman's sports as compared to men's sports.
Stephanie is an awesome player but Amy has settled in quite nicely. We may have lost a little something on D but on O we are fine.
I've definitely been one of those making note of the light schedule to date - not so much doubting the team as guarding myself against excessive hopes. Winning close against ASU & positively roasting Arizona today goes a long way towards getting me to get on board. Great wins, and especially great to see Jordan throw two complete game shutouts against top 10 teams.
I agree. I am really getting excited now. Let's pray for a healthy team with no more injuries.
Wow. It seems to me these girls play games almost everyday. I give them a huge amount of credit for being able to succeed at a sport and take classes. Talk about major time management.
probably do not have classes on Fridays. So in the early season, they play mainly in weekend tournaments. They leave Metro airport on Thursday night and play 2 games on Friday, 2 games on Saturday and 1 game on Sunday and fly back home Sunday afternoon to get ready for class on Monday morning.
So playing a typical tourney at 5 games per weekend, starting on 11FEB11. So they get 15 games in three weekend. The Big 10 schedule is more difficult on the kids.
Edit: What he said.
Bree Evans. A tough individual.
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is a scrappy player. She has a great eye for the ball, her speed is awesome and she is a very smart and agressive runner.
March 18th, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^
MGOSOFTBALL, who do we have to watch out for in the Big Ten? and when does the Big Ten schedule start?
March 18th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
| Sat., Mar. 26 | at Northwestern * | Evanston, Ill. | 1:00 p.m. CT |
| Sun., Mar. 27 | at Northwestern * | Evanston, Ill. | 1:00 p.m. CT |
| Wed., Mar. 30 | vs. Bowling Green | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| Sat., Apr. 2 | vs. Indiana * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Sun., Apr. 3 | vs. Indiana * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Sat., Apr. 9 | vs. Purdue * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| Sun., Apr. 10 | vs. Purdue * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Tue., Apr. 12 | vs. Western Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Wed., Apr. 13 | vs. Central Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Sat., Apr. 16 | at Illinois * | Champaign, Ill. | 2:00 p.m. CT |
| Sun., Apr. 17 | at Illinois * | Champaign, Ill. | 2:00 p.m. CT |
| Wed., Apr. 20 | at Penn State * | State College, Pa. | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| at Penn State * | State College, Pa. | 5:30 p.m. ET | |
| Sat., Apr. 23 | vs. Iowa * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Sun., Apr. 24 | vs. Iowa * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Sat., Apr. 30 | at Wisconsin * | Madison, Wis. | 12:00 p.m. CT |
| Sun., May 1 | at Wisconsin * | Madison, Wis. | 12:00 p.m. CT |
| Tue., May 3 | vs. Eastern Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Wed., May 4 | vs. Ohio State * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 5:30 p.m. ET |
| vs. Ohio State * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 7:30 p.m. ET | |
| Sat., May 7 | vs. Minnesota * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| Sun., May 8 | vs. Minnesota * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Fri., May 13 | vs. Michigan State * | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Sat., May 14 | at Michigan State * | East Lansing, Mich. | 1:00 p.m. ET |
Here is the Big 10 Softball Schedule. Although some of the teams are not in the Big 10, travel is the main concern here. We play teams that are close during the week so travel is about 1 to 1.5 hours. Teams can make "day trips" The weekend games are for the longer travel destinations.
I dont understand why they dont play double headers on Saturday. The girls would certainly prefer it.
If I had to guess which team will give us the best game? I would have to say osu. We both played Tulsa, we beat Tulsa and osu lost. Try not to draw any conclusions from that data only that osu is not shying away from decent competition. Their pitching staff is very young but the rest of the line up is veterans.
My second choice for stiff competition is Illinois. They were in the top 25 in RPI last year. They are playing in the Judi Garman Classic this weekend as well, We will not play them but we will play the same teams. This should give us a rough idea how we stack up against them. I am not worried about Illinois too much though
We will get critisized again this year for playing int a weak conference, Now we are required by Big 10 rules to play the schedule that is given to us. However, just be prepared in the national media to take some lumps.
Again, I look for 1 to 2 losses in the Big 10 schedule for a total of 2-4 losses.