SB: Mercy-Rule Win @ Minny

1. Northwestern (8-0)
2t. Michigan (7-2)
2t. Rutgers (7-2)
4. Nebraska (8-3)
5. Minnesota (6-3)
6t. Maryland (5-4)
6t. Illinois (5-4)
8t. Purdue (4-5)
8t. Penn State (4-5)
10. Ohio State (3-6)
11. Iowa (3-8)
12. Indiana (2-7)
13. Wisconsin (1-7)
14. Michigan State (1-8)

A couple of big series next week, with Northwestern at Minnesota and Michigan at Rutgers, although Rutgers probably isn't nearly as good as their record indicates, with their conference schedule so far consisting of Indiana, Purdue and Michigan State.  Despite that fact, Michigan still needs a series win because Rutgers' schedule doesn't get any more difficult:  they don't play Northwestern, Nebraska or Minnesota this year.

1. NORTHWESTERN (8-0) 

2.  # 4 MICHIGAN (7-2), RUTGERS (7-2)

4. NEBRASKA (8-3)

5. #14 MINNESOTA (6-3)

Everyone else is flirting with .500 or below. Michigan does not play Northwestern or Nebraska and travels to Rutgers next weekend. Northwestern must still face Minnesota and Nebraska. Rutgers is the dark horse surprise so far-- they are riding a pretty solid ace pitcher for a lot of their wins-- and they do not face Minnesota, Nebraska, or Northwestern. 

EDIT: is there an echo in here? sorry, I was compiling this before I saw the previous post.

Really fantastic performance today.  I caught about half of the game (hosting an Easter party kept me distracted), but I was impressed.  The ladies really battled, and as was noted above, even though we ended up in run-rule territory, this was no cake-walk.  Minnesota is a great team, definitely in contention to host a regional this year if they finish strong, and Groenwegen is a great pitcher.  Getting to her, especially after Friday's debacle, really says a lot about what this team can do

I've had a few doubts after some of our bad games recently, and I'll own up to that.  This team isn't perfect, but when they bring their best softball, no one in the country can count on holding us down.  Hopefully this sets us off in the right direction going forward!

if the big ten sticks with its unbalanced east and west division scheduling, michigan is going to do well in the wins column but lose out a bunch on SOS... the next best programs all reside in the west--- iowa, nebraska, northwestern, and recently minnesota... I look for maryland to emerge as a contender in the coming years with their strong non-revenue programs across the board... I would love for us to schedule notre dame during the conference schedule.. they do it with msu and other MAC neighbors of ours.... we just played our last nationally relevant game until post season tournaments and seeding come in mid-may. hopefully our very strong non conference schedule and performance stay relevant 

Revenge.

Also, Northwestern is a fraud as is Rutgers. Michigan is still the class of this conference.

Big win for softball after the loss on Friday.  Go Blue!!

Is there a reason that the last names are appearing in parenthesis?

Hey MGoSoftball, my daughter and I attended the UCLA Oregon game today. It was a good game, Oregon got two grand slams in the 3rd and 4th to put it away. I was hoping to see Michigan come to Northwestern but no dice, so we decided to check out this game during our spring break. My daughter is now itching to play!