B1G Softball Tournament bracket

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

#16 Michigan (43-10) will head to Madison later this week for the 2018 B1G Tournament.

Michigan is the 1 seed after winning the B1G Championship outright this past weekend when they took the series against Ohio State. This was the 20th B1G Championship in program history (leading the league all-time by a mile), and the 10th B1G Championship in the last 11 seasons for Michigan Softball.

The top-12 teams in the B1G make the tournament (sorry Rutgers and Penn State). The tournament is a single elimination crapshoot with the top-4 teams receiving First Round byes.

Michigan will practice on Thursday when the First Round begins, and will face the winner of the 8 MSU vs 9 Nebraska game. Michigan swept MSU this season, outscoring them 9-0 in both games with the first being a Meghan Beabuien no-hitter. The Wolverines did not face Nebraska this season (or last). 

Michigan's Quarterfinal game on Friday will be at 5:30pm. The entire tournament will be on BTN. 

Indy Pete - Go Blue

May 8th, 2018 at 10:26 PM ^

We will not face anybody with a decided home-field advantage unless Wisconsin makes it to the finals. There is no team and that can match up with our pitching (IU is good - but no Michigan). We can lean heavily on Beaubien, far more so than we do in the regular season. Having an ace like that gives you a chance in any game, especially against inferior opponents like those currently in the Big Ten. Hopefully a good run in the Big Ten tournament sparks us to a run in the NCAA tournament. This team is young, but there’s no reason they are not capable of an excellent postseason. And congrats again to the ladies on yet another Big Ten championship.

Solecismic

May 9th, 2018 at 1:45 AM ^

Northwestern has a super-frosh who can hit. They're no slouch, and Beaubien is 2-0 against OSU.

Minnesota is the team that scares them the most. Amber Fiser is starting to break out as a sophomore - easily the second-best pitcher in the conference. And they have a couple of big hitters, too. Wisconsin isn't getting past Friday.

Alton

May 9th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^

You can play 4 games a day on a field without starting or ending at a ridiculous hour. If you invite all 14 teams, you would have to add a day.  I think the 12-team tourney is just to keep things simple.

Really, they should just go to an 8-team tournament.  I doubt they will, but they should.

massblue

May 9th, 2018 at 7:57 AM ^

I find it odd that we will have to play the second semi game and with no rest will have to play, while Minn will have a 3 hour break.

tlo2485

May 9th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^

This happened I believe 2 years ago also. IIRC, #2 seed Minnesota beat us in extra innings... I remember it being at Penn State's field. They should just start it Wednesday like the SEC and have the Championship alone on Sunday. Or either reduce the field or expand it to all 14 teams and give byes. 

If the keys are completely in Beaubien's hands for the remainder of the season, as I suspect they will be, no break might be better. In softball, it might be better to just keep throwing straight through rather than have a break.