Last Four In: Florida Gulf Coast, Nebraska, Missouri, Mississippi
First Four Out: Illinois, Mercer, Houston, Pittsburgh
Oklahoma continued its epic run of dominance over the rest of the Big 12 as the Sooners completed a perfect 18-0 conference season after sweeping Oklahoma State this weekend. Paige Parker and Paige Lowary combined to shutout the Cowgirls 7-0 on Saturday night in Norman to cap off a perfect senior night for what will arguably go down as the best senior class in program history. Florida clinched their fourth consecutive SEC regular season championship, going into Columbia and sweeping Missouri. Kayli Kvistad’s three-run homerun in the top of the seventh inning on Sunday was the difference as the Gators have now won at least 20 games in conference play for the third consecutive season. The regular season title for Florida should lock them in as one of the top four seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Florida State swept North Carolina State this weekend and their remarkable run of dominance through the ACC continues. The sweep of the Wolfpack was the fifth conference series sweep of the season. In addition, Florida State has swept 36 of their past 49 conference series. The Seminoles should be in the mix for one of the top eight national seeds on Selection Sunday as long they don’t have a first round exit at the ACC Tournament. Michigan is the outright champion in the Big Ten despite a shocking loss to Western Michigan earlier in the week. The Wolverines have gotten better as the season has gone along and should be in the mix for one of the 16 regional host spots in the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon and UCLA are continuing to take the Pav-12 race down to the wire as the Ducks and the Bruins had to work a little bit in their respective series but got the job done when it counted. Oregon has a trip to California next weekend to face the Golden Bears which can take a game from the Ducks. Arizona State visits UCLA next weekend in what should be a fantastic series and it will be interesting to see if G Juarez of the Sun Devils can steal a game or two in the circle as they are fighting for a top 8 national seed. Bottom line, this should a fantastic sprint to the finish line as teams fight for the best possible draw for regionals in two weeks.
ACC: Florida State, Notre Dame, Louisville
American: South Florida, Wichita State
Big East: DePaul
Big 12: Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas
Big Ten: Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Nebraska, Northwestern
Pac-12: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington
SEC: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M
A-10: Massachusetts
America East: Albany
A-Sun: Kennesaw State, Florida Gulf Coast
Big Sky: Weber State
Big South: Liberty
Big West: Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton
CAA: James Madison, Hofstra
C-USA: Florida Atlantic
Horizon: Illinois-Chicago
Ivy: Dartmouth
MAAC: Monmouth
MAC: Ohio
MEAC: Morgan State
MVC: Drake
MWC: Boise State
NEC: St. Francis
OVC: Eastern Kentucky
Patriot: Boston U
Southern: UNC Greensboro
Southland: McNeese State
Summit: North Dakota State
Sun Belt: Louisiana, Texas State
SWAC: Texas Southern
WAC: New Mexico State
WCC: BYU
