M Softball Announces 2019 Schedule
Led by star pitcher Meghan Beaubien, Michigan announces a VERY ambitious line up for the spring. In conference they will host: Nebraska (finally), Indiana, and Penn State... travel to: Rutgers, OSU, and Maryland.. and split with MSU home and away. Once again we will not play top contender Minnesota in the regular season. Here's the nonconference, loaded with top teams:
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USF WILSON-DEMARINI TOURNAMENT
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FEB 8 (FRI) 10:00 AM
TAMPA, FLA.
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FEB 8 (FRI) 2:30 PM
TAMPA, FLA.
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FEB 9 (SAT) 10:30 AM
TAMPA, FLA.
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FEB 9 (SAT) 3:15 PM
AT USF
TAMPA, FLA.
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FEB 10 (SUN) 9:00 AM
TAMPA, FLA.
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ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
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FEB 15 (FRI) 1:30 PM
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
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FEB 15 (FRI) 4:00 PM
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
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FEB 16 (SAT) 1:30 PM
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
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FEB 17 (SUN) 12:30 PM
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
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LSU INVITATIONAL
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JUDI GARMAN CLASSIC
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MAR 1 (FRI) NOON PT
FULLERTON, CALIF.
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MAR 2 (SAT) 2:30 PM PT
FULLERTON, CALIF.
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MAR 2 (SAT) 5:00 PM PT
FULLERTON, CALIF.
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MAR 3 (SUN) 9:00 AM PT
FULLERTON, CALIF.
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MAR 3 (SUN) 2:00 PM PT
FULLERTON, CALIF.
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SUN DEVIL CLASSIC
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MAR 7 (THU) 1:30 PM MT
TEMPE, ARIZ.
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MAR 7 (THU) 6:30 PM MT
TEMPE, ARIZ.
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MAR 8 (FRI) 2:00 PM MT
TEMPE, ARIZ.
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MAR 8 (FRI) 4:30 PM MT
TEMPE, ARIZ.
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MAR 9 (SAT) 9:00 AM MT
TEMPE, ARIZ.
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MAR 16 (SAT) 2:00 PM
VS KENT STATE
ANN ARBOR, MICH.
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MAR 16 (SAT) 4:00 PM
VS KENT STATE
ANN ARBOR, MICH.
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MAR 17 (SUN) 1:00 PM
VS KENT STATE
ANN ARBOR, MICH.
October 31st, 2018 at 8:48 PM ^
Impressive. 5 of the 8 WCWS teams from last year on that schedule: Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State, Florida, Washington. 3 other super regional teams on there, too: Tennessee, LSU, Arizona.
Now if mgoblue could get the Men's Lacrosse schedule up, too, that'd be great...
October 31st, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
WOW that is the toughest schedule Ive seen in 4 decades of following Michigan Softball maybe the toughest all time schedule ever of any team
October 31st, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^
No kidding, I'm still trying to grasp that first tournament.
Who is even the #2 pitcher now? Schaefer, I guess? She's going to have to start against NC State and USF on day 1 & day 2 of the season, since Beaubien will have to deal with Arizona & Florida those same days.
October 31st, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
Freshman Alex Storako will be our #2 pitcher.
October 31st, 2018 at 11:28 PM ^
Michigan is loaded at the pitcher position now. Schaefer is no slouch, and would be #1 at many programs.
From Storako's UM bio:
Prep
• Graduated from Lincoln Way East High School (2018)
• Named to the 2018 MaxPreps All American first team
• MaxPreps Underclass All American as a junior (2017)
• Two-time Illinois All-State first team (2017, 18), second team (2016) and special mention (2015)
• Named Daily Herald Player of the Year (2018) and Co-Player of the Year (2017); also named 2017 Daily Southtown/Chicago Tribune Player of the Year
• Named Southwest Suburban Conference Softball Player of the Year (2018); three-time All-Conference selection (2016, '17, '18)
• Selected as 2017-18 Lincoln Way East High School's Senior Female Athlete of the Year
• Posted a career record of 70-19 with 918 strikeouts; went 21-2 with a 0.76 ERA and 255 strikeouts as a senior (2018)
• Played travel ball with the Sparks Premier 18U club
• Named to the 2018 PGF Central Region All American Team
• Honor Roll; National Honor Society
Lincoln Way East High School's Senior Female Athlete of the Year... she has that particular award in common with my wife.
October 31st, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^
Ah, no, not even the toughest this year. Take a look at Florida's schedule. In their non-conference schedule they play Mich, Arizona, Ariz St, UCLA twice, Oregon, Wash, Minnesota and defending Nat'l Champ Fla St twice--then the SEC which is considerably tougher than the B1G--three games each with Bama, Tenn, LSU, Auburn and Tex A&M among others.
http://floridagators.com/schedule.aspx?path=softball
October 31st, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Very tough schedule. Gonna be an interesting year since hitting will likely continue to be the weak spot and the # 2 pitcher is up in the air.
We're debating on going to either Maryland or Rutgers - the weather will be nicer in Maryland but we haven't been and it's a longr drive.
October 31st, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
Nice job with the scheduling.
It's too bad the Big Ten won't support softball by ensuring Michigan plays the solid west division teams every year. It would be imbalanced, but the results of the current system have been a consistent downgrade from the NCAA when it comes time to make tournament invites. It has hurt Minnesota and Nebraska as well.
Rutgers, Penn State and Maryland, especially, should not be scheduled until they start fielding competitive programs. I get that softball isn't big in the northeast so it would be difficult for them, but those weekend series' late in the season are RPI killers.
Michigan has to react, and this is a good reaction. They have to be everywhere there's a good tournament during the early spring.
October 31st, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
for those who don't follow softball closely... even the non "power" schools you see on this schedule like James Madison, USF, and Lehigh are among the best mid-majors.... this schedule is insane.
November 1st, 2018 at 6:19 AM ^
That's an awesome non-con if the team can navigate it with some success. Plus, they'll get to see a familiar face when they play Oregon at the Judi Garman Classic.
November 2nd, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
I am looking forward to the Tennessee match-up. This schedule is murder, but doable.