D 3 softball

[WLCALUM83]

#4 Hardin Simmons 2  #5 Sul Ross 1  Sul Ross elimated
Hardin Simmons vs. #1 Belhaven later today.

Next up #3 UMHB vs. #2 ETBU

#3 UMHB / #2 ETBU headed to extras tied at 1.

ETBU wins it in the ninth 2-1.

UPDATE:  Long story sumewhat short, it came down to an ETBU/Belhaven final. The Blazers knocked off the Tigers twice 2-1 and 2-0 to take the ASC AQ. The timing couldn't have been more imppecable-it'll be their last shot in the ASC before transferring conferences!

[justafan12]

My picks for at large

Sure things in no order (11)
Tufts
Babson
Kean
Salisbury
Moravian
Randolph Macon
Birmingham Southern
Depauw
Millikin
St. Benedict
ETBU

On my bubble in order of who I think will get in
1.Ramapo
2.TCNJ
3. Arcadia
4. U Mass Dartmouth
5. George Fox
6. UMHB
7. Buena Vista

[WLCALUM83]

I totally forgot about Kean, MIT and Buena Vista, had NE Wes on bubble originally, but dropped them. Wasn't expecting Alma getting in. MSOE's rough last regular season week cost them.

[phil]

I think the champion of the UAA (CWRU) – while not an automatic bid – is as good as a lock. Plus a 30 win Wash U. St. Louis is going to merit consideration before four NJAC teams get in.

[justafan12]

NCAA never ceases to amaze me.

*ETBU third in their region but get to host.  Updated their facility but no parking; most teams stay in next town 30 minutes away.  That coach has some kind of pull.
*ETBU and Belhaven already played each other 6 times so lets put them in the same regional.  This is the old UT Tyler / ETBU situation all over again.
*Both Nebraska Wesleyan and Roanoke get in as at-large as a 7 seed.
*A 2 team regional?  Only thing worse was the 3 team regional format.  Is this best 3-5.
*Virgina Wesleyan playing in Amherst regional. 9 hours away.
*Linfield and Chapman both flying to Texas.

Easiest regional
CNU
TLU

Hardest regional
ETBU
Amherst

Teams that shafted
Moravian
George Fox
Birmingham Southern

[TheChucker]

It's really hard to understand a 2-team bracket at TLU (wow, they must have pull), especially with the juggernaut bracket at ETBU with three NFCA top 10 teams in it, and two from the same conference.

Belhaven is highly ranked and very good, but I'm not sure they even wanted to host an NCAA. They had to host the conference tourney at Delta State, over two hours away from their campus in Jackson.

Somehow, I assumed Linfield would host George Fox (didn't make it), Chapman and a 4th team. I assumed TLU would host ETBU, maybe UMHB (NFCA #9 that didn't make the tourney) and another team. I assumed Belhaven would get sent somewhere in the south or southern Midwest.

Boy was I wrong.

[justafan12]

Belhaven has a decent field but in a bad location, no lights and no dressing rooms/fieldhouse.  No way they could have hosted 8 teams at their conference tournament.  I think they could have handled a 4 team tournament but they may not have wanted to.  (Note: Last year they hosted conference tournament but held it at Mississippi College about 20 minutes from Belhaven.  Not sure if that was an option this year).

TLU is a little out of the way but probably easier to get to than Marshall.  They were handed a gift in a 2 team regional against an unranked Chapman.  I agree their coach must have  some pull with the NCAA.

I missed this the first time; Virginia Wesleyan avoids the CNU regional which they are located a grand total of 30 miles from.  Yes, they have to travel to Amherst but they avoid the overall #1 seed.  Talk about a gift.

[WLCALUM83]

When it comes to higher profile D3 women's sports, this softball bid will be the first one ever for NE Wesleyan., and the first one since the Prairie Wolve volleyball squad made the NCAA as an independent in 2014. They could get Wartburg if they win their opener, (What?? Again?)

[justafan12]

As I study the bracket I see more oddities:

ODAC gets 3 teams into the field; all 3 are in different regionals and could all end up in Salem for the WS.  Roanoke is traveling almost 500 miles to play in Indiana.

NJAC also gets 3 teams into the field and all in different regionals.  Again, could all end up in Salem.

Berry (in Georgia) is traveling almost 500 miles to play in a regional.  How many other regionals did they drive past to get there?

MIT traveling 500+miles to Randoph-Macon for a regional. 

Region 10, with 4 NFCA top 10 teams could only get 1 team into the WS.  All other regions could get multiple teams in WS.

[justafan12]

Major screw-up by the NCAA.  See if you can spot it.

https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/softball/d3/2022

[Caz Bombers]

Major screw-up by the NCAA.  See if you can spot it.

https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/softball/d3/2022

nothing stands out to me, what are we not seeing?

[justafan12]

At one time it referred to the event as the Womens DIII College World Series.  Now it says Womens DIII College Finals so they have corrected it.  I posted it on twitter and I guess someone from the NCAA looked. 

The phrase "World Series" is only allowed for DI.

[TheChucker]

NFCA #15 Birmingham Southern and #11 Mary Hardin-Baylor the only two ranked teams to not make the NCAAs. TLU has two open slots in their regional. I still think that 2 team regional needs some explanation.

[justafan12]

There is a formula that determines how many teams are in the field each year.  It is based off the number of teams that sponsor softball each year so the number can change from year to year.  Sure would be simple just to say 64 each year and be done but for 2022 that would be travel money for 2 extra teams.  Can't have that.

You use to be able to find the softball committee minutes on the NCAA.org website.  I can't find them any more.

[TheChucker]

There is a formula that determines how many teams are in the field each year.  It is based off the number of teams that sponsor softball each year so the number can change from year to year.  Sure would be simple just to say 64 each year and be done but for 2022 that would be travel money for 2 extra teams.  Can't have that.

You use to be able to find the softball committee minutes on the NCAA.org website.  I can't find them any more.

Good info! The system only allows one "applaud" per day.