SB Nation Detroit - NCAA Softball Tournament: Michigan Eliminated By Kentuckyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2011-05-22T15:26:18-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19371132011-05-22T15:26:18-04:002011-05-22T15:26:18-04:00NCAA Softball Tournament: Michigan Upset, Eliminated By Kentucky
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<p>Taking a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning, Michigan was well on its way to forcing a third and deciding game against Kentucky later on Sunday. Pitcher Jordan Taylor was rolling, and all Michigan needed was three outs to extend its season at least one more game.</p>
<p>Things came crashing down for Michigan in the bottom of the seventh. The lead-off batter for Kentucky hit a home run to right field to tie the game up. Taylor then proceeded to walk two straight batters and hit a batter, loading the bases. She finally rebounded with a strikeout, but a bloop single into right field scored a run and ended the Wolverines' season.</p>
<p>The 2-1 victory means Kentucky is moving on to the Super Regionals next weekend. Michigan's season is over, as is the career of Jordan Taylor. She finished with <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mikerothstein/status/72375494850514944">1,220 strikeouts</a>, which is good for <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mikerothstein/status/72369530751557633">24th all-time</a> in NCAA softball history.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/5/22/2184407/ncaa-softball-tournament-michigan-upset-eliminated-by-kentuckySean Yuille2011-05-22T01:18:49-04:002011-05-22T01:18:49-04:00NCAA Softball Tournament: Michigan Rallies To Stay Alive With 9-8 Victory
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<p>When Michigan was trailing Notre Dame in the sixth inning by a score of 8-3, things looked bleak. With their season on the line, the Wolverines needed to make a comeback and fast. Although they did rally in their first game on Saturday (against Kentucky), it wasn't enough. They lost and were put in an elimination game against Notre Dame as a result.</p>
<p>Down 8-3, Michigan's second rally of the day began with a Marley Powers double. Following a walk and a wild pitch, Michigan had runners on second and third. A single by Amy Knapp didn't score any runs, but it did load the bases. Bree Evans was up to bat next, and her single did bring Powers home. Another single brought in another run, as did a walk to Dorian Shaw. Amanda Chidester flew out to right field for a sacrifice fly, and a single by Ashley Lane brought in the game-tying run.</p>
<p>Powers, who started the rally, came back up to bat with two outs and two on base. Unlike the first game of the day, Michigan's rally didn't come up short this time. In fact, this rally put Michigan on top, 9-8, when Powers singled in the go-ahead run.</p>
<p>The Wolverines made it through the top of the seventh unscathed for the 9-8 victory. The win means Michigan's season is still alive for another day. The Wolverines will play Kentucky on Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Wildcats are victorious, they will move on to the next round of the 2011 NCAA softball tournament. If Michigan wins, a third and deciding game between these two teams will be played at approximately 3:30 p.m.</p>
<p>To move on, Michigan needs a pair of wins over Kentucky on Sunday.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/5/22/2183796/ncaa-softball-tournament-michigan-notre-dameSean Yuille2011-05-21T15:27:17-04:002011-05-21T15:27:17-04:00NCAA Softball Tournament: Michigan Beats Western Michigan, Loses To Kentucky
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<p>The Ann Arbor Regional in the 2011 NCAA softball tournament began on Friday. Kentucky beat Notre Dame, 8-0, in the opening game to send the Wildcats on in the winner's bracket and the Fighting Irish to the loser's bracket. There they are playing Western Michigan Saturday afternoon. The winner will meet Michigan later this evening because the Wolverines were upset by Kentucky earlier in the day.</p>
<p>Michigan went down 7-1 to Kentucky and trailed by that score going into the top of the seventh. A rally that included a grand slam got Michigan within one run with no outs, but the Wolverines couldn't complete the comeback. Kentucky managed to hold on for the 7-6 victory, meaning the Wildcats are through to Sunday with a 2-0 record.</p>
<p>If Michigan loses its game later on Saturday, it will be eliminated. The Wolverines need a win against Notre Dame/Western Michigan and then two wins over Kentucky on Sunday to move on to the Super Regional portion of the tournament.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/5/21/2183114/ncaa-softball-tournament-michigan-kentuckySean Yuille2011-05-16T13:13:25-04:002011-05-16T13:13:25-04:00NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Michigan To Host Regional
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<p>The <a href="http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/softball/d1/2011">2011 NCAA softball tournament bracket</a> was announced on Sunday night. The Michigan softball team found out it is the 10th overall seed in the tournament, which means it will get to host one of the 16 regionals set to take place this upcoming weekend.</p>
<p>Michigan's regional includes Western Michigan, Kentucky and Notre Dame. The Wolverines, which went 51-4 during the regular season, will take on the 25-28 Western Michigan Broncos. Kentucky will play Notre Dame, which is making its fourth straight appearance in the Ann Arbor Regional. Each of the last three years Notre Dame has played Michigan in the NCAA softball tournament and has lost, and the last two years Notre Dame has lost to the Wolverines twice.</p>
<p>The format for the opening regionals in the NCAA softball tournament is double-elimination. If Michigan wins its regional, the Wolverines will move on to the Super Regional round next weekend. Although Michigan is only a No. 10 seed and could face No. 7 California in the Super Regional round, the Wolverines would play host to the series next weekend because California can't host. The Super Regional is a best two out of three format with the winner advancing to the Women's College World Series.</p>
<p>Michigan's entire regional will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. Friday's game at 5:30 p.m. between Notre Dame and Kentucky will be on ESPN2. Michigan's game against WMU later that night at 8 p.m. will be on ESPN. The rest of the schedule will depend on which teams win and lose on Friday.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/5/16/2335208/ncaa-softball-tournament-bracket-michigan-to-host-regionalSean Yuille