Looking ahead, the conferences have scheduled remarkably. The Pac 12, Big XII, SEC and Big Ten all have their top two teams playing a series against each other to finish the regular season.
This past week and weekend were like every other week. A few interesting upsets everywhere in college softball. Perhaps the most surprising, Arizona ranked 3rd won two of three at Cal, but lost game two 2-1 in 9 innings. (1A was Baylor's non conference win over LSU. More about that later.) Another interesting, though not crucial Pac 12 series, #26 Stanford was getting swept at home by Arizona St. In case you didn't know, the Pac 12 is the only of the P5 conferences, and one of the few anywhere, who does not have a Conference Championship Tournament.
Until this weekend, the top four in the Pac 12 included Stanford. Had that stayed, then the top four will be playing each other the last two weeks of the season. Sounds close to a CCT, except in three game series. And the apparent best two, Arizona and UCLA play each other the last week in Los Angeles. Arizona goes to the other top four RPI teams in the conference, Washington, this week. Stanford hosts the Bruins this week. UDub hosts Stanford next week. At least one Super may be at stake. Two are likely a certainty.
The SEC leader has been Alabama. But the CT lost two of three at home to Kentucky this weekend. It probably doesn't matter much, because the committee will take care of the SEC in post season scheduling, unless there are major changes. Bama and LSU are 1-2 in the standings, and guess what. They also play each other this weekend. Bama is the leader but they go to Baton Rouge. In case you didn't hear, Baylor who has mightily struggled all year, hosted LSU this weekend, and won one game out of three. Considering the Baylor is almost certainly the last place of the 7 teams in the Big XII, that's noticable. The only way that Baylor finishes ahead of Kansas, is for Kansas to lose three straight at Ames, possible, and Baylor to win both games in Austin, very unlikely. If LSU wins at least two of three at home against Bama, the only way they would not be the SEC regular season champ, is if Old Miss wins three straight at Georgia this weekend.
In the BigTen, there are a big three in softball: Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern. With one week to play a series, none have played each other, and Michigan faces neither, at least until the CCT. But Northwestern goes to Minnesota, this week.
In the Big XII, same thing. The best two teams are OU and OSU who split a three game home and home this week. OU has won 35 straight games, and hasn't lost a conference game since 2017. But if the Sooners were to be swept by the Cowgirls, then OSU would win the regular season. Two of the three games in are Stillwater which has the home team alternating days. OSU swept Texas Tech this weekend, coming from behind in all three games, including 8-7 Saturday after trailing 7-0.
In the ACC, Florida State is the defending conference and national champ. After a few weeks of the conference season, they had a greater than 50 game in conference winning streak. But the spell was broken. FSU who was number one most of the first two months of the season, is 45-8 overall, but only 16-5 in the conference. They lead the six team Atlantic division, but have the second best conference record behind Coastal leader Virginia Tech 43-8, 20-4.
The records of the big 3 in the BigTen, having not played each other: Northwestern 41-7, 20-0, Michigan 37-11, 19-1 and Minnesota 37-10, 18-1. NW at Minn F, S, S.
TOP 30 4-22-19 RPI
1 Oklahoma Big 12 45-2 Wichita 8-0, at Iowa State 8-3, 9-2, 14-0 at OSU 2, OSU, XII CCT
2 UCLA Pac-12 40-2. Utah 3-0, 9-1, 10-0. at Stanford 3, Arizona 3.
3 Arizona Pac-12 40-8. at Cal. 6-3, 0-1(9), 4-1. Washington 3, at UCLA 3.
4 Washington Pac-12 38-7 Open week. at Arizona 3, Stanford 3.
5 Texas Big 12 39-12. at Kansas 3-0, 10-1, 4-2. Incarnate Word, Baylor 2. XII CCT
6 Florida St. ACC 45-8. Troy 4-1. Duke 8-0, 3-2, 8-1. at Syracuse 3, ACC CCT.
7 LSU SEC 40-12. UL Monroe. at Baylor 2-0, 4-2, 1-5. Alabama3. SEC CCT.
8 Alabama SEC 47-6 Belmont 6-4, Kentucky 1-4, 3-1, 2-3. LSU 3. SEC CCT
9 Florida SEC 39-13. Auburn 7-0, 1-2, 1-6. Mississippi St. 3. SEC CCT
10 Northwestern Big Ten 41-7. Illinois 8-0, 4-2, Mich St 10-4, 6-2, 10-1. at Minn 3. BIG CCT
11 Minnesota Big Ten 37-10. at Wisc 8-2, 10-3. Iowa 9-0, 8-0, 6-1. Nwestern 3. BIG CCT
12 Tennessee SEC 37-12. Tenn St 15-2. at Mississippi 3-5, 1-4, 2-1. T A&M 3. SEC CCT
13 Michigan Big Ten 37-11. Mich St. 16-0. Penn St. 6-5, 8-0, 8-1. at Maryland 3. BIG CCT
14 James Madison ColAA 41-7. UVa 3-1. Drexel 14-0, 9-4, 12-2. at Deleware 3. CCA CCT.
15 Ole Miss SEC 36-13. S Miss 3-0. UTenn 5-3, 4-1, 1-2(9) S Carolina 3, SEC CCT.
16 Kentucky SEC 31-19. E Kent 10-2. at Bama 4-1, 1-3, 3-2 (13) at T Tech 2, SEC CCT
17 Oklahoma St. Big 12 37-11. N Texas 6-0. Texas Tech 3-2, 8-7, 6-5. OU 2, at OU, XII CCT
18 South Carolina SEC 35-14. Georgia 3-2(9), 4-6 (8), 3-2. Ole Miss. SEC CCT.
19 Auburn SEC 35-14 Florida 0-7, 2-1, 1-6. Arkansas. SEC CCT
20 Louisiana Sun Belt 46-4. at La Tech 7-2. Cst Carolina 5-2, 8-0, 3-2. at ULM. SunBelt CCT.
21 Texas Tech Big 12 35-12. at OSU 2-3, 7-8, 5-6. Kentucky 2. XII CCT
22 Tulsa AAC 33-16. at Wichita St 0-4, 4-3, 3-1. at UConn 3. AAC CCT.
23 Arkansas SEC 34-16. at T A&M 1-3. at T A&M 2. Auburn 3. SEC CCT.
24 Drake MVC 36-14.N Iowa 6-0. at Missouri St 9-0, 2-4, 9-5. Iowa St, Evansv 3. MVC CCT
25 South Fla. AAC 35-15. Memphis 2-0, 5-3, 2-1. at Wichita 3. AAC CCT
26 Stanford Pac-12 31-13. Fresno St 3-2, Arizona St 4-10, 4-7, 5-10. UCLA 3, at Wash 3.
27 North Carolina ACC 33-16. NC Gb 6-2, at Louisville 6-2, 6-0, 1-6. NC Cent 1, ACC CCT
28 Virginia Tech ACC 43-8. BC 10-2, 11-1, 8-1. Longwood 2, W Carolina 2. ACC CCT.
29 Louisville ACC 31-15. Marshall 5-4. N Carolina 2-6, 0-6, 6-1. at NC State 3. ACC CCT.
30 Missouri SEC 29-21. SE Mo St 4-1. at Miss St. 3-8, 3-6, 2-10. NMoKC, S Carolina 3
This past week and weekend were like every other week. A few interesting upsets everywhere in college softball. Perhaps the most surprising, Arizona ranked 3rd won two of three at Cal, but lost game two 2-1 in 9 innings. (1A was Baylor's non conference win over LSU. More about that later.) Another interesting, though not crucial Pac 12 series, #26 Stanford was getting swept at home by Arizona St. In case you didn't know, the Pac 12 is the only of the P5 conferences, and one of the few anywhere, who does not have a Conference Championship Tournament.
Until this weekend, the top four in the Pac 12 included Stanford. Had that stayed, then the top four will be playing each other the last two weeks of the season. Sounds close to a CCT, except in three game series. And the apparent best two, Arizona and UCLA play each other the last week in Los Angeles. Arizona goes to the other top four RPI teams in the conference, Washington, this week. Stanford hosts the Bruins this week. UDub hosts Stanford next week. At least one Super may be at stake. Two are likely a certainty.
The SEC leader has been Alabama. But the CT lost two of three at home to Kentucky this weekend. It probably doesn't matter much, because the committee will take care of the SEC in post season scheduling, unless there are major changes. Bama and LSU are 1-2 in the standings, and guess what. They also play each other this weekend. Bama is the leader but they go to Baton Rouge. In case you didn't hear, Baylor who has mightily struggled all year, hosted LSU this weekend, and won one game out of three. Considering the Baylor is almost certainly the last place of the 7 teams in the Big XII, that's noticable. The only way that Baylor finishes ahead of Kansas, is for Kansas to lose three straight at Ames, possible, and Baylor to win both games in Austin, very unlikely. If LSU wins at least two of three at home against Bama, the only way they would not be the SEC regular season champ, is if Old Miss wins three straight at Georgia this weekend.
In the BigTen, there are a big three in softball: Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern. With one week to play a series, none have played each other, and Michigan faces neither, at least until the CCT. But Northwestern goes to Minnesota, this week.
In the Big XII, same thing. The best two teams are OU and OSU who split a three game home and home this week. OU has won 35 straight games, and hasn't lost a conference game since 2017. But if the Sooners were to be swept by the Cowgirls, then OSU would win the regular season. Two of the three games in are Stillwater which has the home team alternating days. OSU swept Texas Tech this weekend, coming from behind in all three games, including 8-7 Saturday after trailing 7-0.
In the ACC, Florida State is the defending conference and national champ. After a few weeks of the conference season, they had a greater than 50 game in conference winning streak. But the spell was broken. FSU who was number one most of the first two months of the season, is 45-8 overall, but only 16-5 in the conference. They lead the six team Atlantic division, but have the second best conference record behind Coastal leader Virginia Tech 43-8, 20-4.
The records of the big 3 in the BigTen, having not played each other: Northwestern 41-7, 20-0, Michigan 37-11, 19-1 and Minnesota 37-10, 18-1. NW at Minn F, S, S.
TOP 30 4-22-19 RPI
1 Oklahoma Big 12 45-2 Wichita 8-0, at Iowa State 8-3, 9-2, 14-0 at OSU 2, OSU, XII CCT
2 UCLA Pac-12 40-2. Utah 3-0, 9-1, 10-0. at Stanford 3, Arizona 3.
3 Arizona Pac-12 40-8. at Cal. 6-3, 0-1(9), 4-1. Washington 3, at UCLA 3.
4 Washington Pac-12 38-7 Open week. at Arizona 3, Stanford 3.
5 Texas Big 12 39-12. at Kansas 3-0, 10-1, 4-2. Incarnate Word, Baylor 2. XII CCT
6 Florida St. ACC 45-8. Troy 4-1. Duke 8-0, 3-2, 8-1. at Syracuse 3, ACC CCT.
7 LSU SEC 40-12. UL Monroe. at Baylor 2-0, 4-2, 1-5. Alabama3. SEC CCT.
8 Alabama SEC 47-6 Belmont 6-4, Kentucky 1-4, 3-1, 2-3. LSU 3. SEC CCT
9 Florida SEC 39-13. Auburn 7-0, 1-2, 1-6. Mississippi St. 3. SEC CCT
10 Northwestern Big Ten 41-7. Illinois 8-0, 4-2, Mich St 10-4, 6-2, 10-1. at Minn 3. BIG CCT
11 Minnesota Big Ten 37-10. at Wisc 8-2, 10-3. Iowa 9-0, 8-0, 6-1. Nwestern 3. BIG CCT
12 Tennessee SEC 37-12. Tenn St 15-2. at Mississippi 3-5, 1-4, 2-1. T A&M 3. SEC CCT
13 Michigan Big Ten 37-11. Mich St. 16-0. Penn St. 6-5, 8-0, 8-1. at Maryland 3. BIG CCT
14 James Madison ColAA 41-7. UVa 3-1. Drexel 14-0, 9-4, 12-2. at Deleware 3. CCA CCT.
15 Ole Miss SEC 36-13. S Miss 3-0. UTenn 5-3, 4-1, 1-2(9) S Carolina 3, SEC CCT.
16 Kentucky SEC 31-19. E Kent 10-2. at Bama 4-1, 1-3, 3-2 (13) at T Tech 2, SEC CCT
17 Oklahoma St. Big 12 37-11. N Texas 6-0. Texas Tech 3-2, 8-7, 6-5. OU 2, at OU, XII CCT
18 South Carolina SEC 35-14. Georgia 3-2(9), 4-6 (8), 3-2. Ole Miss. SEC CCT.
19 Auburn SEC 35-14 Florida 0-7, 2-1, 1-6. Arkansas. SEC CCT
20 Louisiana Sun Belt 46-4. at La Tech 7-2. Cst Carolina 5-2, 8-0, 3-2. at ULM. SunBelt CCT.
21 Texas Tech Big 12 35-12. at OSU 2-3, 7-8, 5-6. Kentucky 2. XII CCT
22 Tulsa AAC 33-16. at Wichita St 0-4, 4-3, 3-1. at UConn 3. AAC CCT.
23 Arkansas SEC 34-16. at T A&M 1-3. at T A&M 2. Auburn 3. SEC CCT.
24 Drake MVC 36-14.N Iowa 6-0. at Missouri St 9-0, 2-4, 9-5. Iowa St, Evansv 3. MVC CCT
25 South Fla. AAC 35-15. Memphis 2-0, 5-3, 2-1. at Wichita 3. AAC CCT
26 Stanford Pac-12 31-13. Fresno St 3-2, Arizona St 4-10, 4-7, 5-10. UCLA 3, at Wash 3.
27 North Carolina ACC 33-16. NC Gb 6-2, at Louisville 6-2, 6-0, 1-6. NC Cent 1, ACC CCT
28 Virginia Tech ACC 43-8. BC 10-2, 11-1, 8-1. Longwood 2, W Carolina 2. ACC CCT.
29 Louisville ACC 31-15. Marshall 5-4. N Carolina 2-6, 0-6, 6-1. at NC State 3. ACC CCT.
30 Missouri SEC 29-21. SE Mo St 4-1. at Miss St. 3-8, 3-6, 2-10. NMoKC, S Carolina 3
