Monday, May 16, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 11 Wolverines set to host NCAA Regional as No.10 seed By EMILY BONCHI Daily Sports Writer The No.2 Michigan softballteam has officially arrived at the most rig- orous part of its journey in hoping to reach the Women's College World Series for the 10th time in program history. "The most exciting thing we do is play in the NCAA tourney," Michi- gan coach Carol Hutchins said to her team after the announcement Sunday night. "Nobody's ranking matters. Now we play. The team that plays the best wins." The Wolverines were announced as the No. 10 overall seed during Sunday night's NCAA Selection Show, set to host the Ann Arbor Regional this weekend. "I predicted somewhere between seven and 11," Hutchins said. "And I don't care - I don't. The ranking doesn't matter, we've seen that the last three years (when) we've been ranked in the top eight." The Wolverines (18-2 Big Ten, 51-4 overall) will welcome three familiar teams to Ann Arbor, as the double-elimination playoff series begins Friday. Kentucky and Notre Dame will be the first to take the field, followed by Michigan - matched up against in-state rival Western Michigan. The Wolverines have already met the Fighting Irish (March 19) and Broncos (April 12) this season, tak- ing the games 9-4 and 6-1, respec- tively. But a lot has happened since then, and Hutchins looks to make sure Michigan stays consistent. "We just have to continue what we've been doing, we don't have to do anything different," Hutchins said. "You always look at the brack- et, see who you're with and who you're paired up against. It's really difficult to get to the World Series because the top 16 is brutal." She added: "I think it's a tough regional, period." Even as the final highlight reel was playing on the big screen, the Michigan coaching staff was already collecting statistics on this weekend's opponents. Kentucky (14-9 SEC, 36-14) heads to Ann Arbor after a tough loss to Tennessee, the eventual confer- ence champion, in the quarterfinals of the SEC championship. But the Wildcats have several big wins on their resume, including a midseason sweep of No. 3 Florida in April. Notre Dame has been a con- stant postseason opponent for the Wolverines, as Michigan has been matched up against the Fighting Irish the past four seasons. Notre Dame (19-1 Big East, 45-9) dropped games to both Michigan and West- ern Michigan this season, but went on a 14-game tear in its last 15 games of the season. And the Wolverines' first oppo- nent - the Broncos - earned an at-large bid after winning the 2011 MAC Tournament title for the first time since 2003. Western Michigan (14-6 MAC, 25-28) claimed both the MAC regular-season and tourna- ment titles in the same season for the first time in program history. This is the 10th consecutive sea- son that Michigan has hosted the NCAA Regionals in 'Ann Arbor, meaning the fourth straight home series for this year's senior class. "We've been blessed to be able to host for four straight years," senior first baseman Dorian Shaw said. "We've got a great facility, and I honestly think that when other teams come in and play at Michigan they're lucky to get to play at our field, because our field is so nice and our stands are always full." Hutchins added: "(The crowd) sure makes me fired up. I hope that it's to our advantage - it certainly could be. But they're not going to pitch for us and they're not going to hit for us, so we've got to give them something to cheer about." Just two other Big Ten teams, Indiana and Penn State, join the Wolverines in the tournament's 64-team pool. Michigan is the only team in its conference to hold a NCAA Championship title. "I did my homework - I'm dis- appointed in it, but that reflects our seeding," Hutchins said of the lack of Big Ten teams. "Our schedule this year was lighter at the .front end, more than I cared for it to be, so that's the way it is. But we did what we could do, we won the games that we were supposed to win, so I think we're in good shape." The Wolverines will be gearing up for postseason play this week as the tournament starts Friday night. Kentucky and Notre Dame will kick off the evening at 5:30 p.m. followed by Michigan and the Broncos at 8:00 p.m. Both games will be aired on ESPN. 'M' sweeps Spartans to clinch fourth straight Big Ten title By EMILY BONCHI Daily Sports Writer The Michigan softball team's senior class is four-for-four with Big Tentitles. After sweeping Michigan State this weekend, forcing the mercy rule to take' each game MSU 0 in the home- MICHIGAN 8 and-home series 8-0, MICHIGAN 8 8-0, the sec- MSU 0 ond-ranked Wolverines earned their fourth straight conference title. After beat- ing the Spartans on Senior Night on Friday, Michigan was only guaran- teed a share of the title. "We're all kind of caught up in wanting to win a Big Ten champion- ship," senior first baseman Dorian Shaw said. "That's what this game is about, it's not about the seniors. "We still have to play Michigan State just like the sophomores and the juniors and the freshmen do too." And they did, earning their 17th run-rule decision of the season - Michigan's sixth in Big Ten play. On Saturday, Michigan (18-2 Big Ten, 51-4 overall) played in front of a sold-out crowd - for the sec- ond day in a row - but this time in East Lansing. Michigan coach Carol Hutchi: looked confere Indiana in the c "I q - my ever - word 'c "They'v care of' to let up "I (th 'Co 'C And: igan ha ignited ter Mar left fiek tained a gan's g May 8,1 Powers Bree Ev set off a second 1 ns, a former Spartan herself, team-leading 17th home run of the to lead her team to a solo season to add three more runs to the nce title. A loss would allow inning. Michigan State (6-14, 27-27) to force a tie for first place didn't close out the inning until the onference. Wolverines were ahead, 7-0. luoted Bo (Schembechler) "You can't ask for much more favorite Michigan coach than this from our team," senior (that) there's no 'co' in the pitcher Jordan Taylor said. "We hampion,' " Hutchins said. came out firing and we just did real- e got to go up there and take ly well. It's good to know that we're business. I don't want them firing on all cylinders as we head , and I know they won't." into the postseason." Taylor had a night of her own, owning the rubber for two days in a row to dominate the Spartan quoted Bo offense. She tossed her second no- hitter of the season improving to at) there's no 29-3 on the season. "Jordan was phenomenal," Shaw ' n the word said. "You can't ask for much more from a senior than that kind of per- harnpion.'" formance. Junior third baseman Amanda Chidester also added to Michigan's effort with a 3-for-3 performance to the Wolverines didn't. Mich- increase her team-leading batting d an explosive second inning, average to .492, She also notched by senior designated hit- four RBI on the series to lead her ley Powers. After freshman team with 72 so far this year. Pow- der Nicole Sappingfield sus- ers hit a two-out bases-loaded single :n injury atthe end of Michi- in the fourth to push Shaw across name against Minnesota on home plate and give the Wolver- the lineup was shuffled and ines the run-rule lead. The Spar- started. Junior center fielder tans threatened in the bottom of ans followed with a triple to the inning with two runners on, but Wolverine rally. Sophomore a lineout to sophomore shortstop baseman AshleyLane hit her Amy Knapp kept Taylor's 11th shut- SAKAH SQUIRE/uaily Senior pitcher Jordan Taylor threw a no-hitter Sunday in her 41st career shutout. out of the season secure, making the less game, strikingout13 Spartans to weekend a real team effort. match her season high. She allowed "I feel just having confidence just one hit - a chopper over first within our team and having con- base - in the top of the fourth. The fidence in each other will help us Wolverines used a big third inning continue to play Michigan softball," to break the game open. Freshman._ Powers said. left fielder Lindsay Doyle - who Friday night honored the team's stepped up to take Sappingfield's seniors and it was those players who place in the number two slot - led led the team for the first game of the off the inning with a single to short. series - this time in front of a sold Several batters later, Michigan out Ann Arbor crowd. took a 5-0 lead that would only go up Taylor threw yet another score- from there, leading to an 8-0 final.