Softball World Series Schedule

[Dale8R]

Here's what the schedule looks like as long as the weather cooperates and the games don't run too long.

Women's College World Series
Double elimination
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Thursday, May 29
Game 1 -- La. Lafayette 3, Florida 2 (8 innings)
Game 2 -- Texas A&M 1, Virginia Tech 0
Game 3 -- Arizona State 3, Alabama 1
Game 4 -- UCLA 1, Arizona 0

Friday, May 30
Game 5 -- La. Lafayette (21-13) vs. Texas A&M (55-7), 6 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN360)
Game 6 -- Arizona State (62-5) vs. UCLA (51-7), 8 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN360)

Saturday, May 31
Game 7 -- Florida (67-4) vs. Virginia Tech (49-18), 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN360)
Game 8 -- Alabama (56-7) vs. Arizona (41-18), 1 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN360)
Game 9 -- Loser of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 7, 6 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN360)
Game 10 -- Loser of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 8, 8 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN360)

Sunday, June 1
Game 11 -- Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 9, noon (ESPN/ESPN360)
Game 12 -- Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 10, 2 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN360)
Game 13 -- Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 9, 6 p.m. (if nec.) (ESPN2/ESPN360)
Game 14 -- Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 10, 8 p.m. (if nec.) (ESPN2/ESPN360)

Championship Series
Double elimination
Monday, June 2
Game 1 -- Winner of Game 11/13 vs. Winner of Game 12/14, 7 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN360)
Tuesday, June 3
Game 2 -- Winner of Game 11/13 vs. Winner of Game 12/14, 7 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN360)
Wednesday, June 4
Game 3 -- Winner of Game 11/13 vs. Winner of Game 12/14, 7 p.m. (if nec.) (ESPN2/ESPN360)

Times edited to Central Time Zone for easier use by most of us

[TTU79]

The Aggies beat La. Lafayette by a score of 2-1.

[BearLady]

There have been some very good games today. Very tough luck for the Hokies, but talk about nerves of steel . . . those Florida Gators staged and won a huge face off. I hadn't realized earlier that their coach was a former assistant at U of Oklahoma on their national title team. I applaud him for his strategy in the game against V Tech. Nobody down but he loads the bases for the easy force out, and his team makes it pay off. Way to go, Gators!

I really, really like the opening intro for the games. It has very young girls, say about age 7 or 8, going out to play on their local softball fields and dreaming one day of appearing in the WCWS. Then intersperses with participants from the various teams bringing a statement from today. All in all, it's a great segment. Some of the best that ESPN has done in a long, long time.

Now if only they would get rid of this John Kruk guy. :rolleyes:

[Dale8R]

I have to confess to having a soft spot for ULL, but it looks like they are goners. So many neat stories with that team.

Oh, and the piece about Tucholsky, Holtman and Wallace was nice, too. Sounds like they are having quite a ride.

[Bball Girl]

I am bad karma for any team I cheer for......

Arizona, Va Tech, ULL, now TAMU :(

where the heck of the A&M bats?

I'm really afraid to yell for the Devils....but I can't help it. GO DEVILS!

[swok34]

Texas A & M is still hanging. No score, headed to extra innings. Winner advances to play Arizona State for the trophy. The Florida head coach is an ex-OU assistant who played baseball for OU.

They are certainly doing something right in the women's sports arena down in College Station.

[BearLady]

Way to go, Aggie sisters! Let's bring it on home!

:TAMU:

[Dale8R]

TAMU vs ASU, about as good as we could expect, a series worth watching. . . . but I still would have liked to see the bus riders.

[Noah121]

TAMU vs ASU, about as good as we could expect, a series worth watching. . . . but I still would have liked to see the bus riders.

...The bus riders? What is that?

But I really want to see A&M beat ASU twice and go on to the championship series. There's enough with the Pac-10 in softball that... (I forgot what I was going to say)

[Dale8R]

Everybody flew to the games except ULL. They decided to take the bus, took them 10 hours or so, but they seemed to enjoy it.

http://blog.nola.com/ragincajuns/2008/05/softball_notes_from_the_road.html

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/SPORTS/805300330/1006

[Bball Girl]

Yes...the Aggies did pull it out. I didn't think UofA had it to make it this far - so I was hoping for an A&M/ASU final - but I'm pulling for the Katies and the Devils. But I won't be upset if the Aggies win.

Great performance by ASU to take game 1 - but there's a lot of softball left. Tennessee won game 1 easily last year - but lost the last 2 game.

[wildcatfan]

My girls were able to get their picture with Taryne Mowatt. She was very nice and my daughter loves her change-up. We were sad to see them get beat out.

[Noah121]

Best-of-three series are much different than any other series, I would say. Indeed, winning the first game can be a confidence booster, but as was mentioned, there have been plenty of Game 1 winners that then lose twice in a row. (Or, in volleyball when you're down 0-2 and come back to win 3-2).

The NCAA tournament format in baseball and softball is so strange versus every other tournament format that I know. It's essentially 4 double-elimination tournaments of 4, 2, 4, and then 2 teams. At least it's not as bad as in the pros where you can win a championship with barely a .500 record in the playoffs whereas in some tournaments you must be 1.000 or bust.

[Scamp]

A day of rest for both teams before the finals would seem like a good idea.

[Bball Girl]

My girls were able to get their picture with Taryne Mowatt. She was very nice and my daughter loves her change-up. We were sad to see them get beat out.

How cool...T-Mo does have a great change-up!

I could do without the "major leaguer" - Kruk - can you imagine ESPN having Jessica Mendoza doing color on a "major" league baseball game. I did love seeing him get smoked by Michelle Smith.

I know he went through a lot with his cancer - but I don't see a lot of his comments relevant to this game.

[Dale8R]

I think I'll go out on a limb and predict that ASU is going to win it all! :D

I happened to run into some people from Lafayette this evening and they were so proud of their girls, and pleased that someone from up this way knew exactly who they are.

They spoke of the family atmosphere on the team. That was clearly evident to anyone who was watching.

[wildcatfan]

Man, my heart went out to Megan Gibson. She had a great career and I'm sure this isn't how she wanted to end it.