5/7 Softball Bracketology Breakdown

 
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