2023 Softball vs South Carolina

[AU1947 157]

IF we could only hit.... still hitting below the league average and Penta's overpowering of other teams has Auburn where we are...  if she goes down we are in serious trouble IMO... hope she stays healthy. 

[Golden Eagle 387]

New national rankings came out today.  Softball America and ESPN/USA Softball have us at 15.  D1 Softball has us at 13.  NFCA Coaches have us at 17.

Attached is a file that shows top 25 teams in each poll side-by-side if anyone is interested.

Regarding the postseason (see below) 32 teams receive automatic bids by winning their conference championships.  The remaining 32 teams, and the seeding, is determined by the D1 Softball Committee.  Here are the members of that committee:

https://web1.ncaa.org/committees/committees_roster.jsp?CommitteeName=1WSB

 

To maximize Auburn's chances of hosting a regional (polls look promising other than the coaches poll which has us at #17), they need to take the series (preferably sweep the series) against Mississippi State this weekend.  MSU has been in the cellar of the SEC most of the season but last weekend they swept #22 Kentucky and knocked them out of the top 25...yikes.  

Also, just saw that Paige Cook was the SEC Player of the Week last week.  And note that MSU hit 10 HRs against KY.

Player of the Week

 Paige Cook, Mississippi State

Paige Cook, a senior infielder from Cornelia, Ga., batted .667 with four hits, six runs scored and five RBI in the series sweep over No. 20/22 Kentucky, the first series win against UK since 2017. Against the Wildcats, Cook drew five walks and registered three of MSU's 10 home runs, which is the most in an SEC series in program history. On the weekend, she posted a 2.333 slugging percentage and .818 on-base percentage.

 

from D1 softball:

How are teams selected for the NCAA Division I softball tournament?

There are 64 teams that make the championship field. Of those 64, 32 receive automatic bids by winning their conference championships. The remaining best 32 teams are selected by the DI Softball Committee. Sixteen teams are seeded and each of the seeded teams is placed at one of the regional sites.

What is the format for the NCAA Division I softball tournament?

The tournament is divided into regionals and super regionals ahead of the championship finals in Oklahoma City.

Regionals: Four-team, double-elimination tournaments are played on 16 campus sites. The 16 winning teams advanced to super regionals.

Super regionals: Two teams play in a best-of-three tournament format on eight campus sites. The winners from each site advance to the Women’s College World Series.

What is the format for the Women's College World Series?

Eight teams compete in a double-elimination format. The final two teams then play a best-of-three series for the national championship. The Women's College World Series has been played at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City nearly every year since 1990. 

When is the Women's College World Series?

This year It is scheduled for Thursday, June 1 through Thursday/Friday June 8/9 (depending on whether the final is 2 games or 3)

Softball rankings 5-2-23.odt

Edited May 2, 2023 by Golden Eagle
Added info about Paige Cook

[warladytigers 183]

On 4/29/2023 at 5:56 PM, slot canyon said:

With Shelby not pitching any today, makes me think either she is not able or CMD wants to use her tomorrow in combination with Penta  in hopes of taking the series. Regardless, we need some offensive help.  Today just ended up being an "experience day" for Widra and Rolfe.  We allowed players who are not known for hitting the long ball do exactly that.   Gobourne is a very good pitcher but very disappointed we could not get a single hit today. Pretty much my only AU highlight today was Lisenby throwing out the runner attempting to steal 2nd.

Good news is that I read that Shelby is available for this coming weekend against Mississippi State.