
The Michigan softball team has made the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, relying on an at-large bid this time. They will compete in a regional hosted by No. 2 Oklahoma, starting with a match against Kansas.
The Michigan softball team has made the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season, but this time, the Wolverines had to sweat it out a bit before hearing their name called during the selection show.
Bonnie Tholl, in her fourth season as head coach, and her team won the Big Ten Tournament each of the last two years, so the Wolverines earned automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament. But this year, they had to rely on an at-large bid, and as a team on the bubble, there certainly were no assurances. Michigan finished the season 34-20, including 11-13 Big Ten, but had a solid strength of schedule, ranked No. 40.
Lauren Putz is two home runs and six RBIs shy of tying Sierra Romero's Michigan single-season record in both categories.
The Wolverines are traveling to Norman, Oklahoma, for a double-elimination regional hosted by No. 2 Oklahoma, which has won six national championships in the last decade. They will open with Kansas (35-19), in the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015, on Friday at 6 p.m. Michigan defeated Kansas on Feb. 8 in Tampa, 4-2. Oklahoma (48-8) opens with Binghamton (20-25).
“I like to be in control of our own destiny as probably every coach you talk to will say that,” Tholl told reporters during a video conference this week, about having to wait for the at-large bid. “There are lessons learned throughout the season of how you play with a sense of urgency but without a sense of worry. You want to play true to who you are. Have we done it all season long? No, I think we’ve been a little inconsistent in that sense. We have at least another two games, and so there’s room for growth.”
The players say they are fueled by being one of the last teams in the tournament.
“It definitely kind of lights that fire in us, just trying to prove people wrong,” outfielder Lauren Putz, a unanimous All-Big Ten first-team selection, said. “Obviously, being the underdog is kind of easier than being the favorite team.”
Oklahoma, of course, is the favored team in the region, and the Sooners are hosting a regional for the 15th straight year. The program has won eight national championships, including seven since 2013, and during that stretch won four straight from 2021-2024. This will be a tall task for the Wolverines, who have not reached a Super Regional since 2016.
Michigan softball qualified for the NCAA Tournament this year by receiving an at-large bid after finishing the season with a 34-20 record.
Michigan softball's first opponent in the NCAA Tournament is Kansas, and they will play on Friday at 6 p.m.
Michigan softball won the Big Ten Tournament in each of the last two years but had to rely on an at-large bid this year.
The NCAA regional for Michigan softball is being held in Norman, Oklahoma, hosted by the No. 2 ranked Oklahoma team.

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“I’m excited,” Putz said. “I think the regional part of the season is one of the most exciting because, as a lot of people say, those are the biggest chance for upsets. I feel like if we view them as just another team in our way, and not as like Oklahoma, I think it definitely can help us just stay in that neutral mindset and just play the game that we know how to play and not try to overthink who we’re playing.”
Tholl was pleased with how the team practiced earlier in the week and that they seem to be enjoying playing and not succumbing to pressure and overthinking. The players speak about their “intention” every day at practice, and the Wolverines were focused on being “joyful" to start the week.
“I believe we’ll be playing our best ball,” Tholl said.
The Wolverines will need big performances from Putz, the sophomore outfielder who has had a stellar season and is chasing Michigan Sierra Romero’s single-season records for home runs and RBI. Putz needs two home runs to tie Romero’s record of 23, and she needs six RBI to tie with 83. Her .442 batting average leads the team.
“I honestly haven’t thought about the records,” said Putz, whose mother, Kelsey Kollen Putz, was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection at Michigan, and whose father, J.J. played baseball at Michigan and then in the majors as a relief pitcher from 2003-14. “I’m just trying to do my own thing and trying to do what I’ve been doing all season. Keeping a neutral mindset — see ball, hit ball — and not trying to overthink anything. Just trying to keep that positive energy going across the team.”
Tholl said whenever Putz steps in the batter’s box, they all feel like something game-changing might happen. She praised her base running, as well as her hitting.
“Lauren’s a great competitor,” Tholl said. “She’s not ever satisfied with her work, and she knows that she can really make an impact in the game. She really knows and understands how to play the game, and it’s been exciting to watch her grow within our program.”
Putz may break records, but her goal now is to make an impact this week and help the Wolverines prove people wrong.
MICHIGAN VS. KANSAS
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Love's Field, Norman, Oklahoma
TV: ESPNU
Records: Michigan is 34-20; Kansas is 35-19
Format: Double-elimination. Host Oklahoma (48-8) and Binghamton (20-25) also are in Michigan's pod, squaring off at 3:30 p.m. Friday's winners will meet at 3 p.m. Saturday, while the losers will play an elimination game at 5:30 p.m. The regional championship is Sunday, with two games possible.
@chengelis
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan softball out to 'prove people wrong' after squeezing in NCAAs