NCAA Softball Selection -- Does the committee love the B1G?

[mikegarrison]

It is kind of a wild story, isn't it? The two teams that played in the previous championship, who were ranked and seeded #1 and #2, have to play each other in an elimination game for a chance to play against a completely unseeded "Cinderella" team.

[trojansc]

The 1st part of the battle of the '18 and '19 NPOY vs. '21 NPOY goes to Garcia. Gets Alo to ground into a double-play.

All four UCLA batters in the 1st made solid contact on OU's starter (the THIRD different pitcher in as many games, you very very rarely see that in the WCWS). You might think that could mean they have three really great pitchers, but the truth is none of OU's pitchers are overwhelmingly dominant.

[trojansc]

Jun 5, 2021 20:15:12 GMT -5 mikegarrison said:

It is kind of a wild story, isn't it? The two teams that played in the previous championship, who were ranked and seeded #1 and #2, have to play each other in an elimination game for a chance to play against a completely unseeded "Cinderella" team.

This is completely wild. Usually come Sunday of the WCWS, I'm mostly neutral and don't really care who wins. Have to go back all the way to '06 and '07 when Northwestern was really good and I was really hoping they would break through. Excited to root for James Madison tomorrow.

[trojansc]

Rachel. Freakin. Garcia.

[trojansc]

UCLA with a huge baserunning error, they should be up 4-0. But they'll still take 3-0.

[bbg95]

Oklahoma gets two runs back and now trails 3-2. UCLA did escape a bases-loaded jam without further damage.

[bbg95]

Jun 5, 2021 19:56:14 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Looks like ~20 mins first pitch for UCLA-Oklahoma. The winner has to play at 11am local tomorrow, so looking like about a 12 hour turnaround to have to beat James Madison twice.

Go Bruins!

Go Bruins? I always thought that USC fans didn't care for UCLA in just about anything. Or is it because you think they're a better matchup for James Madison?

[trojansc]

Jun 5, 2021 21:46:39 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Jun 5, 2021 19:56:14 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Looks like ~20 mins first pitch for UCLA-Oklahoma. The winner has to play at 11am local tomorrow, so looking like about a 12 hour turnaround to have to beat James Madison twice.

Go Bruins!

Go Bruins? I always thought that USC fans didn't care for UCLA in just about anything. Or is it because you think they're a better matchup for James Madison?

Well, UCLA is still the underdog here. And I definitely don't care for Oklahoma.

But yes, I do think they're a much better matchup for JMU. OU offense is just too much to contain and I think Alexander is great, but they've already seen her and I don't think their #2 will hold OU down. As for UCLA, they have shown much more weakness, both offensively and defensively. And UCLA is doing it all behind Garcia. OU is practically at home too.

[trojansc]

UCLA's defense has let them down SO many times this postseason.

I still think Faraimo would also probably be getting a look at this point (or at least very close to it, maybe let it go a few more hits)

[bbg95]

Oklahoma now up 4-3 after two UCLA errors and a hit-by-pitch led to Tiare Jennings hitting a two-run double for her 89th and 90th RBI of the year, which ties the NCAA record for a freshman. The announcers didn't really talk about it, but I think the UCLA outfielder also misplayed that by taking a bad route.

[Kingsley]

Ugh, come on Bruins.

[bbg95]

Jun 5, 2021 22:00:28 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 5, 2021 21:46:39 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Go Bruins? I always thought that USC fans didn't care for UCLA in just about anything. Or is it because you think they're a better matchup for James Madison?

Well, UCLA is still the underdog here. And I definitely don't care for Oklahoma.

But yes, I do think they're a much better matchup for JMU. OU offense is just too much to contain and I think Alexander is great, but they've already seen her and I don't think their #2 will hold OU down. As for UCLA, they have shown much more weakness, both offensively and defensively. And UCLA is doing it all behind Garcia. OU is practically at home too.

Haha, I guess it's hard for me to think of a defending national champion and No. 2 overall seed as much of an underdog, especially if its UCLA, but fair enough. And yeah, I'm hoping that James Madison can pull a Coastal Carolina, which won the College World Series in its first-ever appearance in 2016.

[bbg95]

Oklahoma escapes a bases-loaded jam to preserve their 4-3 lead after the top of the fifth. G Juarez is being asked to do a lot after winning that first game.

[trojansc]

Jun 5, 2021 22:18:03 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Oklahoma now up 4-3 after two UCLA errors and a hit-by-pitch led to Tiare Jennings hitting a two-run double for her 89th and 90th RBI of the year, which ties the NCAA record for a freshman. The announcers didn't really talk about it, but I think the UCLA outfielder also misplayed that by taking a bad route.

Another problem is UCLA is still having its outfield play more shallow - which makes no sense. It burned em last night and has now burned them twice tonight. Just makes no sense against particularly powerful teams.

(actually, on that last play, looks like the defense has shifted deeper)

[trojansc]

If that UCLA baserunning error by the LMU transfer Wisz comes is the difference in this game.... UGH

(as I say that OU goes yard ) maybe not