2012 NCAA Softball Tournament: Alabama Eliminates Michigan In Super Regional

After falling to Alabama on Thursday night, Michigan needed two wins on Friday to advance to the Women's College World Series. Early on in Friday afternoon's game, Michigan appeared to be in pretty good shape, at least in their quest to force a third and deciding game in the Super Regional series. However, Alabama battled back and ended up winning by a score of 4-3, sending the Wolverines packing and ending their season.

Unlike Thursday's game, Michigan got off to a good start on Friday afternoon. The Wolverines picked up a run in the bottom of the first, and although Alabama tied things up in the top of the second, Michigan retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning. At that point, Michigan was up 3-1 and in pretty good shape. Things fell apart in the fifth inning when a two-run homer tied the game. Alabama then took the lead with a run in the sixth, and Michigan was unable to make a comeback, losing 4-3.

The loss ends Michigan's season and quest to return to the WCWS for the first time in three years. On the flip side, Alabama is now off to the WCWS for the second year in a row.

You can check out the full 2012 NCAA softball tournament bracket right here.

2012 NCAA Softball Tournament: Michigan Falls To Alabama In Game 1 Of Super Regional

If Michigan wants to return to the Women's College World Series for the first time since 2009, it will need a pair of wins against Alabama on Friday. This is because Michigan lost to Alabama in the opening game of its Super Regional in the 2012 NCAA softball tournament on Thursday night. The Crimson Tide rolled to a 4-1 victory over Michigan, putting themselves one win away from the WCWS.

Michigan got off to a slow start against Alabama and could never recover. The Crimson Tide took a 1-0 lead in the second inning and then added three more runs in the fifth inning. Michigan got one run back in the top of the sixth, but that was all the damage the Wolverines were able to do on Thursday night. Alabama went on to win by a score of 4-1.

Here's a look at the schedule for Friday's games in the best-of-three series (all times Eastern):

Thursday, May 24

Game 1: Alabama def. Michigan, 4-1

Friday, May 25

Game 2: Michigan at Alabama (4:30 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN3)

Game 3 (if necessary): Michigan at Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)

You can check out the full 2012 NCAA softball tournament bracket right here.

2012 NCAA Softball Tournament: Michigan-Alabama Super Regional Schedule Announced

The schedule has been announced for Michigan's Super Regional series in the 2012 NCAA softball tournament against Alabama. The Wolverines advanced after upsetting Louisville twice over the weekend and now will take on the No. 2 seed Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. The best-of-three series begins on Thursday and will come to a close on Friday. Here's the schedule (all times Eastern):

Thursday, May 24

Game 1: Michigan at Alabama (8 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)

Friday, May 25

Game 2: Michigan at Alabama (4:30 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN3)

Game 3 (if necessary): Michigan at Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)

If the Wolverines are able to pull off the upset against Alabama, they will advance to their first Women's College World Series since 2009. Michigan won its first and only national championship back in 2005, but since then it has only been back to the WCWS once. A pair of victories against the Crimson Tide would change that and also prevent Alabama from returning to the WCWS for the second time in as many years.

You can check out the full 2012 NCAA softball tournament bracket right here.

2012 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket Update: Michigan Beats Louisville, Advances To Super Regional

After beating Louisville on Saturday, Michigan needed only one more victory over the Cardinals on Sunday to advance to the Super Regional round of the 2012 NCAA softball tournament. The Wolverines got that victory in one try on Sunday afternoon, defeating Louisville by a score 4-0. Michigan is now headed to Tuscaloosa next week to take on Alabama in a best-of-three series with a trip to the College World Series on the line.

Unlike on Saturday, Sunday's win over Louisville wasn't too dramatic. There was no late rally by Louisville, and there wasn't a walk-off win by Michigan. Instead, the Wolverines took an early 3-0 lead after two innings and then added another run in the fourth to make it 4-0. While Louisville did put a couple runners on in the bottom of the seventh, none were able to score. Michigan won 4-0 and can now set its sights on Alabama.

The Crimson Tide, the second overall seed in the NCAA softball tournament, cruised through their regional. Alabama beat UT Martin 5-1 in its first game and then beat South Alabama 5-2 on Saturday. Alabama finished off South Alabama again on Sunday with a 6-0 victory to advance and face Michigan.

Below is a recap of the scores from the Louisville Regional. Dates and start times for Michigan's series against Alabama will be out later.

Friday, May 18

Game 1: Michigan def. Kentucky, 3-2
Game 2: Louisville def. Valparaiso, 6-4

Saturday, May 19

Game 3: Michigan def. Louisville, 2-1
Game 4: Kentucky def. Valparaiso, 5-4
Game 5: Louisville def. Kentucky, 3-2

Sunday, May 20

Game 6: Michigan def. Louisville, 4-0

You can check out the full 2012 NCAA softball tournament bracket right here.

2012 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket Update: Michigan Advances On Another Walk-Off

It has been a walk-off kind of weekend so far for the Michigan softball team. On Friday, Michigan beat Kentucky by a score of 3-2 on a walk-off double. On Saturday, the Wolverines upset Louisville, the host team of their regional, with a different kind of walk-off. Michigan's Caitlin Blanchard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Wolverines a 2-1 victory and sending them to the regional final on Sunday.

Just like Friday, Michigan had to shake off a rough top of the seventh inning on Saturday. The Wolverines entered the seventh inning up 1-0, but they blew the lead by giving up a run on a sacrifice fly. Louisville wasn't able to take the lead, and Michigan wasn't able to score in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth, Michigan held Louisville scoreless. In the bottom of the inning, Michigan put runners on first and third thanks to a blown call at third base. Michigan capitalized by taking a walk to load the bases, and the game came to an end when Blanchard was hit on the very first pitch of her at-bat.

With the 2-1 loss, Louisville was sent to the loser's bracket. There, the Cardinals took on Kentucky, which eliminated Valparaiso with a 5-4 victory following the Michigan game. Kentucky was eliminated on Saturday night with a 3-2 loss to Louisville, setting up a rematch between the Cardinals and Wolverines in the regional final. If Michigan wins the first game, it will advance to the next round of the 2012 NCAA softball tournament. If Louisville wins, then another game to decide the winner of the regional will be necessary.

Here's a look at the updated bracket for the Louisville Regional:

Friday, May 18

Game 1: Michigan def. Kentucky, 3-2
Game 2: Louisville def. Valparaiso, 6-4

Saturday, May 19

Game 3: Michigan def. Louisville, 2-1
Game 4: Kentucky def. Valparaiso, 5-4
Game 5: Louisville def. Kentucky, 3-2

Sunday, May 20

Game 6: Michigan vs. Louisville (1 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser (3:30 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)

You can check out the full 2012 NCAA softball tournament bracket right here.

2012 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket Update: Michigan Advances Past Kentucky

Heading into the seventh inning of Friday's opener in the Louisville Regional of the 2012 NCAA softball tournament, Michigan held a 1-0 lead against Kentucky. In fact, the Wolverines appeared to be well on their way to winning the game before Kentucky rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the inning.

Now trailing 2-1, Michigan needed a rally of its own, and they put one together thanks to a double by Sara Driesenga with two outs. Michigan was down to its last strike, but Driesenga's double plated two runs and gave Michigan a 3-2 victory, putting the Wolverines in the winner's bracket and the Wildcats in the loser's bracket.

In the second game of the day, there was also a walk-off victory. Louisville trailed 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh and needed at least one run to keep the game going. Instead, the Cardinals got three on a walk-off home run by Alicja Wolny, giving them a 6-4 victory.

Louisville and Michigan will now play each other at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with the loser taking on the winner of a game between Kentucky and Valparaiso.

Here's a look at the updated bracket for the Louisville Regional (all times Eastern):

Friday, May 18

Game 1: Michigan def. Kentucky, 3-2
Game 2: Louisville def. Valparaiso, 6-4

Saturday, May 19

Game 3: Michigan vs. Louisville (3 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3)
Game 4: Kentucky vs. Valparaiso (5:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3)
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner (8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3)

Sunday, May 20

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner (1 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser (3:30 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3)

You can check out the full 2012 NCAA softball tournament bracket right here.

NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Michigan Headed To Louisville Regional

Michigan is off to the Louisville Regional in the 2012 NCAA softball tournament.