D 3 softball

justafan12 · April 29, 2019, 01:05:26 PM

NFCA #1 Virginia Wesleyan also wins their conference tournament although they did suffer a loss to Randolph-Macon (26-14). Despite the 14 losses I would give R/M an at large birth just for having 2 wins and 3 loses against VWU. Overall they are 5 wins and 6 losses against NFCA ranked teams (Christopher Newport, Lynchburg and WVU).

deiscanton · April 29, 2019, 04:49:31 PM

For Randolph-Macon to get a crack at Pool C consideration, no more than 1 other ODAC team would have to be ahead of them in the Atlantic Region for Pool C looks. I can see 2 other ODAC teams get considered for Pool C, but not 3. Randolph Macon has to jump ahead of Emory and Henry in the May 2 rankings.

deiscanton · May 01, 2019, 09:58:17 AM

I am waiting out the week to see if Brandeis will get its 2nd invite all time to the D3 softball tourney. Brandeis went to the 8 team New England Regional in 2010 (played at Wellesley College) and finished 3rd in the double elimination tourney. Coast Guard, led by pitching legend Hayley Feindel, knocked out Brandeis, but the Judges were able to beat Coast Guard earlier in that regional. The winner of that regional was Eastern Connecticut, led by another d3 pitching legend in Molly Rathbun-- Rathbun is now Muhlenberg's softball coach.

justafan12 · May 01, 2019, 05:05:28 PM

I think NCAA only puts out 2 regional rankings prior to their final selection. I read in their softball minutes several years ago that they would be more transparent with their final selections and how teams were selected but I have never seen it published.
Both E/H and Lynchburg go 2-2 in conference tournament while R/M went 3-2. I think R/M jumps over E/H based on number of loses (14 vs. 16). 14 total loses is a lot for an at large team but Atlantic is a large region and R/M makes it in.

deiscanton · May 02, 2019, 03:42:47 PM

New regional rankings just came out.

ODAC Pool C candidates--

Lynchburg-- #4 in Atlantic
Emory & Henry-- #8 in Atlantic
Randolph-Macon-- #9 in Atlantic

USA South Pool C candidate--

Piedmont-- #6 in Atlantic

Already in from Atlantic--

Virginia Wesleyan-- #1 in Atlantic-- ODAC AQ
Birmingham-Southern-- #5 in Atlantic-- SAA AQ
Maryville (TN)-- #7 in Atlantic-- USA South AQ

Atlantic Region may get 4 Pool C teams, because I will be surprised if the Northeast Region gets a Pool C this year.

Brandeis dropped to #5 in New England, but I think that Brandeis will have a good shot at a Pool C bid with Case Western now at #6 in the Central this week-- if Brandeis does not grab the second Pool B bid.

Brandeis and Thomas More are battling it out for the second Pool B bid.-- It is very close on primary criteria-- so I see Thomas More getting the 2nd Pool B increases based on the non-conference SOS tiebreaker.

Emory is locked in as the first Pool B team selected next Monday.

Caz Bombers · May 02, 2019, 11:10:09 PM

the Northeast RAC did its constituents no favors leaving St. John Fisher and New Paltz out in favor of ranking Penn State Berks.

I haven't fully looked at all the data this season like I did last year, but eyeballing it Ithaca and Geneseo have decent Pool C cases if the need should arise.

deiscanton · May 03, 2019, 05:50:29 AM

My assumption about Pool C assumed that Ithaca and Geneseo would win their AQs. NYU is going to be sitting on the table and block all other Pool C hopefuls from that region.

Caz Bombers · May 03, 2019, 08:32:42 AM

I could see a red-hot (no pun intended) Cortland, at home as the 1 seed, taking the YAC from Geneseo. Also, IC needed 10 innings to to beat 4 seed Clarkson in the LL 1st round yesterday. So you never know.

deiscanton · May 03, 2019, 09:22:33 AM

Quote from: Caz Bombers on May 03, 2019, 08:32:42 AM
I could see a red-hot (no pun intended) Cortland, at home as the 1 seed, taking the YAC from Geneseo. Also, IC needed 10 innings to to beat 4 seed Clarkson in the LL 1st round yesterday. So you never know.

And then Clarkson lost to Rochester 2-4, in the LL elimination bracket later that day, ensuring that Clarkson will not be a Pool C bid stealer this season.

NESCAC starts their single elimination tournament later today at Tufts, while NEWMAC continues their double elimination tournament at WPI today as well. MIT and WPI meet at 4 PM in the winners bracket with the winner getting to play on Saturday for that AQ.

justafan12 · May 03, 2019, 12:41:55 PM

Rankings by various parties. Not much consistency.

NFCA Massey FPN NCAA regional rank

Virginia Wesleyan 1 1 2 1 A
UT Tyler * - 2 1 -
Williams 2 9 17 1 NE
ETBU 3 3 3 1 W
ST. Thomas 4 12 12 1 MW
Linfield 5 4 4 2 W
Illinois Wesleyan 6 16 20 1 GL
Trine 7 18 18 1 C
Birmingham Southern 8 6 9 5 A
CNU 9 8 3 3 A
Moravain 10 44 36 -

* UT Tyler moving to D2 so not eligible

deiscanton · May 03, 2019, 03:45:59 PM

Rain is delaying games in New England--

In the NEWMAC, Babson has just eliminated Springfield 1-0, on a bases loaded walk off fly out to center field in the bottom of the 7th. Play was delayed almost 2 hours by rain.

Next up, Babson will play Wellesley in another elimination game before MIT plays WPI.

Play delayed by rain in the NESCAC with Tufts leading Middlebury,1-0, in the top of the 4th.

deiscanton · May 03, 2019, 07:54:30 PM

In NESCAC action today-- (8 team, single elimination)

1. Tufts def Middlebury, 2-0, to advance to the semifinal round.
2. Game 2 suspended due to darkness with Williams leading Bates, 6-0, after 5 innings. Game will resume at 8:30 AM Eastern tomorrow (May 4).

NEWMAC action

Wellesley eliminated Emerson, while Babson eliminated Springfield

Wellesley then eliminated Babson 5-4 in 9 innings.

MIT now playing WPI under the lights in Worcester, MA.

Update-- NEWMAC's day ends at 8:50 PM Eastern with MIT defeating host WPI, 5-1, to advance to the title series. WPI will have to first defeat Wellesley at noon Eastern tomorrow and then beat MIT twice to take the NEWMAC AQ. MIT is 1 win away from the NEWMAC Pool A bid.

In SUNYAC play, Geneseo def Cortland, 4-2, to advance to the title game.

Cortland needs to beat Oswego and then beat Geneseo twice to win the SUNYAC AQ.

Liberty League title series is Ithaca v Rochester, with Rochester needing to beat Ithaca twice to get the AQ.

deiscanton · May 03, 2019, 09:12:42 PM

St Vincent won the Presidents Athletic Conf AQ today to become the sixth team officially in the field of 62 for this year.

deiscanton · May 04, 2019, 09:10:48 AM

Softball conference tournament action underway at 8:40 AM Eastern.

Williams has just defeated Bates, 6-2, in NESCAC quarterfinal tourney action. Game ended at 9:03 AM Eastern.

Williams plays the winner of Bowdoin v Amherst later today in semifinal game #2, while Hamilton plays Trinity (CT) next with the winner advancing to play against Tufts in semifinal #1.

Yesterday, Univ of New England sent the #4 team in New England, Endicott, to the Comm Coast elimination bracket. Endicott will have to beat Salve Regina and then defeat UNE twice to win the AQ. Univ of New England is 1 win away from the field of 62.

Update-- at 1:36 PM Eastern, Amherst def Bowdoin, 4-0, in the 4th NESCAC quarterfinal. Amherst will play Williams later today, with Tufts playing Trinity (CT) next.

deiscanton · May 04, 2019, 11:25:25 AM

NESCAC action-- (8 team, single elimination)

Trinity defeats Hamilton, 6-3, and advances to play Tufts in NESCAC semifinal #1.

Bowdoin v Amherst next-- Winner to play Williams in semifinal #2.

Update-- Amherst won, 4-0, against Bowdoin. Amherst moved on to play Williams. Tufts plays Trinity in the next game.