Michigan softball dealt harsh blow with unforgiving Big Ten bracket

Michigan may still have a shot at getting into the NCAA Tournament, but their road to a Big Ten title just got a lot harder.
Michigan’s Jenissa Conway (13) swings at a pitch during the Big Ten softball tournament Friday, May 10, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Michigan’s Jenissa Conway (13) swings at a pitch during the Big Ten softball tournament Friday, May 10, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Michigan Wolverines have put together a respectable season in softball with a 34-19 record in the regular season and finished even 11-11 in Big Ten play. The one thing Michigan hasn't done this season, though, is beat a naked team, and they could face a lot in the upcoming future.

With the regular season officially in the books, the Wolverines will prepare for postseason play starting with the Big Ten Tournament. Finishing 11-11 in conference play earned Michigan the 8-seed in the tournament this season. This means that the Wolverines will take on the 9-seeded Wisconsin in the first round, but after that, things get a little dicey.

If Michigan were to beat Wisconsin in the first round, since there isn't re-seeding after each round, the Wolverines would have to face the No. 1 seed in the conference, the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks finished as the regular season Big Ten Champions with a 47-6 overall record and a 19-3 Big Ten record.

When Michigan and Oregon played earlier in the season, the Ducks were No. 6 at the time and swept the Wolverines in a three-game series. The good news for Michigan is that Michigan lost by a combined two runs in the first two games of the series that took place in Eugene, Oregon, but were run-ruled in the final game of the series.

The Wolverines are set to play Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Michigan should get a bid to the NCAA Softball Tournament

Michigan softball has not hosted a regional since 2019, and before the 2023 season had made the NCAA Softball Tournament every season since 1994. The Wolverines seem prety set to make the tournament yet again this season, even with a up-and-down season.

The problem ahead for the Wolverines is how to get past top-ranked teams, so getting out of a regional may prove to be a tough task for this team. The postseason is the time for stars to emerge, and if Michigan can put it all together, they could make a run.

Schedule

Schedule