M Softball v Notre Dame Regional Open Thread
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The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team (43-11) will head to Lexington, Kentucky, to kick off NCAA Tournament play this weekend (Fri-Sun., May 18-20) at the University of Kentucky's John Cropp Stadium. The Wolverines will open play against Notre Dame at noon on Friday, live on ESPN2.
• Michigan is making its 26th NCAA Tournament appearance (1992-93, '95-2018) and has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament every season since 1995. It is just the sixth time in program history that U-M will play a regional round on the road. The Wolverines are 81-15 all-time in the NCAA Regional round and have won 18 regional titles.
• The winner of the Lexington Regional will move on to a super regional against the winner of the regional being hosted by Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. That regional consists of No. 1 overall seed Oregon, BYU, Drake and Albany.
No, I would not. Would you?
The one complaining and making excuses. They lost because they didn't hit. Same reason they lost to State. Hitting has hurt them all season
But I'm not making excuses. Of course they lost because they didn't hit. So, question for you: how would you suggest they get better at hitting (other than, obviously, recruiting better hitters)?
Let me give you my suggestion first, though. I suggest that if they had faced better pitchers during the two months leading up to the NCAA tournament, they would be better at hitting right now.
I am stating, as I have several times over the last couple of years, that the (regionalized) Big Ten softball schedule works to the disadvantage of Michigan, and I would be happier if it were changed to mimic the (non-regionalized) Big Ten baseball schedule format instead.
...yet. If this team makes it out of the regional (which it still could if Beaubien gets back into the zone and stays there) it would probably rank ahead of last year's team, which failed to get through the regional.
We've been ranked all season long and still did enough to win the B1G.
Regardless of the schedule, you still have to go out there every game and bring it and we did for 18 of our 21 conference games. That's not easy to do regardless of who you play when it's such a long season.
The polls were very kind to Michigan. On the other hand, they finished the regular season outside the RPI top 30 for the first time, I think, since 1994.
Lol, ok. I'm just being realistic here - yes, they might find a way to advance, but it is highly unlikely at this point. It is not unreasonable to do a little reflecting on the season as a whole. In general, I'm pretty dang positive about the softball program & Carol Hutchins especially. For those of us who are really emotionally invested in the team, though, these last couple weeks have been a gut punch. You can't "positive outlook" your way around that.
I honestly would have liked to see more strikeouts. The team was just way too passive at the plate, watching 40 mph belt high changeups go by time and again when up in the count. If they were early and driving the ball but foul that is fine but instead they just never made contact.
And good to get a run in.
Was beyond frustrating to see them look at some many good/decent pitches. I'd much rather we go down swinging than what we saw today.
Tying run is at the plate.....
Jinxed it
For those who want to criticize Beaubien, she is the reason we didn't get run out of the park today and also the reason we have the B1G Championship.
Offense did nothing today and got their first run in the 7th, ending 17 and 2/3 scoreless innings going back to the Sunday OSU game where a lack of effort seemed to be given since things were wrapped up.
Hopefully that run leads to more. Because now we have to win 4 games in the next 2 days to keep our season going.
Let's be honest with ourselves, folks. At best on paper this season will be winning this regional if we can rally these next two days. We just don't have the offensive firepower to get the World Series this year.
when she's behind a hitter. It's just a bigger stage now and it's been a long season for her against competition that's no longer high school level.
to MSU AND Notre Dame?
what an embarrassment. . .
outscored 11-1 in those two games.
Kentucky v Illinois-Chicago game will not be played tonight.
They haven't announced a revised schedule yet, but the Michigan game might not start until 5:00 or so, instead of the originally planned time of 2:30.
UPDATED SCHEDULE:
— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 19, 2018
10am ET - Kentucky vs. UIC
12:34pm ET - Michigan vs. Loser of UK/UIC
3pm ET - Notre Dame vs. Winner of UK/UIC
There will only be three games played on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/XhRtekAXvH
I like the rule change. Don't see why a well coached team would suddenly forget about it, or why a player with Peters' experience wouldn't be extra-careful after seeing Rodriguez called out for the same thing.