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The ESPN family of networks will televise each game of the Ann Arbor and Eugene Super Regionals this weekend, as Michigan and Nebraska eye berths in the Women's College World Series.
The eighth-seeded Wolverines host Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday and Saturday, with the series opener scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Saturday's first game is set for Noon and first pitch of the 'if necessary' third game is 3 p.m. on ESPN.
No. 14 Nebraska travels to third-seeded Oregon for a best-of-three Super Regional on Saturday and Sunday, with all games televised by ESPNU. Saturday's series opener is slated for 8 p.m., while Sunday's contests will begin at 2 p.m. with Game 3, if necessary, scheduled for 5 p.m.
Ann Arbor Regional
Michigan vs. California, 1 p.m., ESPN3
Michigan vs. California, 3:30 p.m., ESPN3 (if necessary)
Lincoln Regional
Nebraska vs. Stanford, 2 p.m., BTN
Nebraska vs. Stanford, 4:30 p.m., BTN (if necessary)
Oregon Regional
Wisconsin vs. Oregon, 3 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Oregon, 6 p.m. (if necessary)
Ann Arbor Regional
Michigan vs. California, Noon
Michigan vs. Central Michigan/Valparaiso, 5 p.m. (if loss to California)
Lincoln Regional
Nebraska vs. Stanford, 2 p.m.
Nebraska vs. Tulsa/Northern Iowa, 8:30 p.m. (if loss to Stanford)
Washington Regional
Minnesota vs. Portland State, 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Washington/Hawaii, 9 p.m. (if win vs. Portland State)
Oregon Regional
Wisconsin vs. BYU, 5 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Oregon/North Carolina, 8 p.m. (if necessary)
Seattle Regional
Minnesota vs. Hawaii, 6:30 p.m.
Michigan Regional
Michigan vs. Valparaiso, 7 p.m.
Lincoln Regional
Nebraska vs. Northern Iowa, 8 p.m.
Oregon Regional
Wisconsin vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m. ET
Twenty Big Ten softball standouts, representing 10 conference squads, were named All-Region performers, it was announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Thursday. In total, 10 were named first-team selections in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions. In the Great Lakes Region, Michigan's Sierra Romero, Minnesota's Sara Moulton and Kaitlyn Richardson, Penn State's Cassidy Bell and Wisconsin's Whitney Massey were named first team selections, while Michigan's Caitlin Blanchard, Sara Driesenga and Ashley Lane, Minnesota's Tyler Walker, Northwetern's Amy Letourneau and Wisconsin's Cassandra Darrah and Whitney Massey were named second-team honorees. Five Big Ten players were listed among the Midwest Region's first team, including Iowa's Megan Blank, Nebraska's Emily Lockman and Tatum Edwards and Purdue's Ashley Burkhardt and Andie Varsho, while Indiana's Amanda Wagner, Nebraska's Brooke Thomason and Ohio State's Taylor Watkins were second-team selections.
On the heels of being named Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year, Michigan's Sierra Romero was listed among the 10 finalists for USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, it was announced on Wednesday. Romero is the only freshman named to the list, which is comprised of seven seniors and two sophomores. She ranks among the nation's top 10 in numerous categories, including home runs, RBI and slugging percentage, and helped Michigan to its sixth straight Big Ten Championship and the No. 1 seed in this week's Big Ten Tournament.
Nebraska 2, Penn State 0
Junior right-hander Tatum Edwards fired a one-hit shutout to lead the 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team past Penn State, 2-0, on Monday afternoon in the regular-season finale at Nittany Lion Softball Park. Edwards allowed only a two-out sixth-inning single to Cassidy Bell, while tossing her ninth shutout of the year and improving to 25-8 on the season. Edwards faced the minimum over the first 5.0 innings, allowing only three total base runners on the single and a pair of walks, while striking out six. RECAP
Michigan 9, Northwestern 3
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the third, junior Caitlin Blanchard crushed a two-run homer to put the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan softball team on top for good in a 9-3 victory over Northwestern today at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. Blanchard swung at the first pitch she saw and drove in freshman Sierra Romero, who had reached after being hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. RECAP
Minnesota 5, Indiana 4
Senior catcher Kari Dorle fittingly scored the game-winning run on an infield single by sophomore left fielder Erica Meyer to cap a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Minnesota completed a weekend sweep of Indiana with a 5-4 win on Senior Day. RECAP
Penn State 3, Nebraska 2
In front of the largest crowd in Penn State softball history at Beard Field and Nittany Lion Softball Park, the Nittany Lions rallied to take a 3-2 victory over No. 14/15 Nebraska on Senior Day. Fittingly, senior Lauren Yao provided the three-run double to push Penn State (15-32, 5-16 Big Ten) past the Huskers (38-12, 15-6 Big Ten). The win is the first over a ranked opponent for the Nittany Lions since a 5-3 victory over No. 22 LSU Feb. 10, 2012, and the first over a Top 15 team since downing No. 9 Oklahoma, 5-2, March 18, 2011. RECAP
Iowa 8, Purdue 2
The University of Iowa softball team downed Purdue, 8-2, on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep in the regular season finale at the Boilermaker Softball Complex. The Hawkeyes topped Purdue, 2-0, in eight innings on Saturday, and won the opener Friday, 4-3, in nine innings. The Hawkeyes have won five-straight games, and six of their last eight overall. The five-game winning streak matches Iowa's longest of the season. RECAP
Wisconsin 3, Michigan State 0 (Game 1); Michigan State 11, Wisconsin 5 (Game 2)
Game 1: In game one, Cassandra Darrah earned her 23th win of the season in her 22nd complete game of the year. Wisconsin jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a Mary Massei leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. Massei repeated the feat in the fifth inning to give the Badgers a 2-0 lead and Stephanie Peace's RBI single later in the frame plated Wisconsin's third run. The Badgers' three runs proved to be all the offense they needed as Darrah held Michigan State to just six hits and no runs in her sixth shutout of the season. RECAP
Game 2: Michigan State softball split the day at No. 25 Wisconsin. In game one the Spartans fell, 3-0, before rallying for a win in game two, 11-5. MSU won the series after picking up the win in game one, 9-4. Sophomore Stephanie Sanders tallied four RBIs and senior Jayme O'Bryant recorded five to lead the MSU offense. Michigan State owns a 24-24 record on the season and 9-10 in Big Ten play. RECAP
Ohio State 3, Illinois 0 (Game 1); Illinois 1, Ohio State 0 (Game 2)
Game 1: Led by sophomore pitcher Alex DiDomenico, Ohio State shut out Illinois, 3-0, in game one Sunday at Eichelberger Field. DiDomenico, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, notched her ninth complete game shutout of the season, limiting Illinois to five hits, no runs, one walk with nine strikeouts. RECAP
Game 2: Senior pitcher Pepper Gay threw over 300 pitches without allowing an earned run in back-to-back complete games on Senior Day, but limited offense from the Illini and a pair of errors in the fourth inning of game one led to a doubleheader split with Ohio State. The Buckeyes plated three unearned runs in the first game to tie the series with a 3-0 victory, but the Illini used a walk-off RBI single by Katie Repole in game two to defeat the Buckeyes 1-0 in the season finale. RECAP
Michigan 16, Northwestern 1
A 16-run barrage, including a record-setting home run from freshman Sierra Romero, carried the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan softball team to a 16-1 five-inning decision over the Northwestern Wildcats today at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. Romero crushed a two-run home run in the first inning to put the Wolverines on top for good. It marked the 22nd homer of the season for the freshman shortstop and established a new single-season U-M record. RECAP
Minnesota 8, Indiana 0 (Game 1); Minnesota 1, Indiana 0 (8) (Game 2)
Game 1: Six extra-base hits powered the University of Minnesota softball team to an 8-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader against Indiana. Catcher Kari Dorle started the scoring with a one-run homerun in the first inning. Later in the game, right fielder Kayla Wenner hit a two-run homer over the outfield netting. Minnesota also hit four doubles, including two by left fielder Erica Meyer, before an RBI single by Dorle scored Tyler Walker to end the game. RECAP
Game 2: Sophomore shortstop Tyler Walker's team-leading 11th home run of the season gave Minnesota a 1-0 walk-off victory against Indiana in eight innings on Saturday, as the Gophers swept a doubleheader from the Hoosiers. Walker, who had just missed hitting a home run in her previous at bat to lead off the sixth inning, didn't leave any doubt about her eighth-inning blast over the wall in right center. RECAP
Nebraska 3, Penn State 1
The 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team handed Head Coach Rhonda Revelle her 800th career victory with a 3-1 series-opening victory at Penn State on Saturday. The Huskers, who have won nine of their last 11 games, was led by junior right-hander Tatum Edwards, who fired a three-hitter and allowed only a single run. Edwards (24-8) did not allow a hit after the third inning, while adding three strikeouts. RECAP
Iowa 2, Purdue 0 (8)
The University of Iowa softball team defeated Purdue, 2-0, in eight innings on Saturday at the Boilermaker Softball Complex in the middle game of its final regular season series. Iowa clinches the series victory with its second-straight extra-inning win in West Lafayette. The Hawkeyes won the opener Friday, 4-3, in nine innings. The Hawkeyes have won four-straight games, and five of their last seven overall. Iowa improves to 29-23 and 7-15 in Big Ten play; Purdue falls to 22-30 and 8-14 in conference action. The 29th victory marks the most for Iowa since finishing 42-16 in 2009. RECAP
Michigan State 9, Wisconsin 4
Michigan State softball downed Wisconsin, 9-4, in the first game of the series. The Spartans scored runs in four innings and junior Kelly Smith struck out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings pitched. MSU improved its record to 23-23 on the season, 8-9 in Big Ten play. RECAP
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