5/14 Softball Bracketology Breakdown

 

Last Four In: South Carolina, Arizona State, Texas State, Northwestern

First Four Out: Boston College, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Cal State Northridge

 

Auburn had a huge day on Friday in the SEC Conference Tournament down in Starkville. The Tigers knocked off Alabama and Florida in the same day to move to the SEC Tournament Championship game against LSU. It was a combination of steady pitching that slowed down the Crimson Tide, along with a great start offensively which allowed Auburn to get their shot at Florida in the SEC Conference Tournament Semifinals. In the matchup with the Gators Carlee Wallace’s two-run homerun off of Florida’s Kelly Barnhill was enough for Kaylee Carlson in the circle as Carlson was lights out against a very explosive Gator lineup.

James Madison should be a top eight national seed on Selection Sunday after winning the CAA Conference Tournament on Friday over Towson. The pitching duo of Jailyn Ford and Megan Good are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament no matter who they draw in their bracket. Arizona State also took some pressure off of themselves on Friday with a 4-3 win over Oregon State to get to 30 wins on the season. A series win against the Beavers would be a bigger statement for the Sun Devils as they have struggled all year long during conference play. However, with Kentucky getting into the field in 2015 with a 5-19 SEC mark, Arizona State should be okay as far as the bubble is concerned as they have an RPI in the top 40. The Sun Devils also have some quality wins over teams like Tennessee and Arizona to bring to the table for their NCAA Tournament resume.

 

See the Projected Softball NCAA Tournament Bracket

 

ACC: Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, North Carolina

American: UCF, Tulsa, South Florida

Big East: St. John’s

Big 12: Baylor, Oklahoma*, Texas, Kansas

Big Ten: Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Northwestern

Pac-12: Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, UCLA, Utah, Washington, Oregon State, California

SEC: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Carolina

 

A-10: Massachusetts

America East: Maine

A-Sun: USC Upstate

Big Sky: Weber State

Big South: Longwood

Big West: Cal State Fullerton*, Long Beach State

CAA: James Madison*

C-USA: Florida Atlantic

Horizon: Wright State

Ivy: Princeton*

MAAC: Marist

MAC: Miami (OH)

MEAC: Bethune Cookman

MVC: Wichita State

MWC: Fresno State*

NEC: LIU Brooklyn

OVC: Jacksonville State

Patriot: Boston U

Southern: Samford

Southland: McNeese State*

Summit: North Dakota State

Sun Belt: Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State

SWAC: Alabama State

WAC: New Mexico State

WCC: BYU*

 

See the Projected Softball NCAA Tournament Bracket