Michigan softball: Wolverines prepared for home opener
Thursday, March 10th, Michigan softball will begin its home schedule with a doubleheader against Kent State. Currently a top-20 team, the Wolverines will look to keep their season’s success going, just two weeks before the start of Big Ten conference play.
Michigan softball’s season thus far
After starting the season 4-4, Michigan softball has gotten back on track with an impressive 9-2 record in their last 11 games. Right now, the team is ranked No. 19 in the nation — the second-highest of any Big Ten softball team — only one place behind No. 18 Northwestern.
The Wolverines have notched a few notable wins this season, such as a 6-0 win over No. 24 UCF, 6-1 win over No. 21 LSU, 3-2 win at No. 13 Duke, and an 8-0 win over No. 10 Kentucky. Michigan is looking like a dangerous team only a few weeks into their young season with such early success.
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It is also worth pointing out that of the Wolverines’ six losses on the season, five were to top-15 teams, and four were to teams in the top-10.
Against teams that are outside of the top-15, Michigan is 11-1, with their only loss coming on the road to No. 25 USF, who is currently 17-3 and trending upwards quickly. Since finishing numerous challenging tournaments early in the season, the Wolverines’ schedule will only get easier from here as they start their search for their 11th Big Ten title since 2010.
Carol Hutchins: winningest of all-time
Legendary Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins picked up her 1,676th win earlier this season, making her the winningest softball coach in NCAA history. The 38-year head coach has won 22 Big Ten titles, appeared in 12 College World Series, and led Michigan to their first national championship win in 2005.
After starting her career with the Wolverines in 1985, Hutchins won her first conference title in 1992 and 22 Big Ten titles in the past 30 seasons. Before Hutchins, Michigan softball had never won a national championship or even the Big Ten.
Hutchins also has 10 conference tournament titles to her name and holds a career-winning percentage of .759.
What to expect in the Wolverines’ home opener
On Thursday, Michigan will face-off against Kent State in their home opener. So far, the Wolverines’ have played the Golden Flashes once this season, taking home a 13-0 victory in the second game of the John Cropp Classic.
Thursday’s matchup will feature a doubleheader between the two teams — both needing these wins before starting conference play. The Wolverines greatly outmatch Kent State and should take both games on Thursday and their fourth and final matchup of the season on Sunday. Kent State comes into Thursday’s doubleheader with a 6-7 record and holds no notable wins on the season thus far.
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Game one will start at 4:00 PM, with game two scheduled for 6:30 PM immediately after. Neither game will be televised, although tickets for the Wolverines’ home opener can be purchased here.