2015 NCAA Division I softball tournament

2015 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site
ChampionsFlorida (2nd title)
Runner-upMichigan (12th WCWS Appearance)
Winning coachTim Walton (2nd title)
MOPLauren Haeger (Florida)

The 2015 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 14 through June 3, 2015 as the final part of the 2015 NCAA Division I softball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college softball teams were selected out of an eligible 293 teams on May 10, 2015. Thirty-two teams were awarded an automatic bid as champions of their conference, and thirty-two teams were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2015 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Automatic bids

The Big 12, Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular season champion. All other conferences have the automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.

Conference School
America East Binghamton[1]
American UCF[2]
ACC Florida State[3]
Atlantic 10 Fordham
Atlantic Sun USC Upstate[4]
Big 12 Oklahoma[5]
Big East St. John's
Big Sky Weber State
Big South Longwood
Big Ten Michigan
Big West Cal State Northridge[6]
Colonial Hofstra[7]
Conference USA Western Kentucky
Horizon Oakland
Ivy Dartmouth[8]
Mid-American Ball State
Metro Atlantic Fairfield
Mid-Eastern Florida A&M
Missouri Valley Indiana State
Mountain West Fresno State[9]
Northeast Central Connecticut State
Ohio Valley Tennessee Tech
Pac–12 Oregon
Patriot Lehigh
SEC Auburn[10]
Southern Chattanooga
Southland Central Arkansas[11]
SWAC Texas Southern
Summit North Dakota State
Sun Belt South Alabama
WAC New Mexico State[12]
WCC BYU[13]

National seeds

Teams in italics advanced to super regionals. Teams in bold advanced to Women's College World Series.

Regionals and super regionals

The Regionals took place May 14–17. The Eugene Region was held from May 14 through 16. All other regionals were held from May 15 through 17. The super regionals took place from May 21 through 24.

Gainesville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
1 Florida 6
Florida A&M 0
1 Florida 7
Hofstra 0
Florida Atlantic 0
Hofstra 1
1 Florida 1(8)
Gainesville Regional
Florida Atlantic 0
Florida A&M 2
Florida Atlantic 7
Hofstra 2
Florida Atlantic 3(9)
1 Florida 7 1
Kentucky 0 0
16 Notre Dame 3
Ball State 6
Ball State 0
Kentucky 5
Kentucky 5
Northwestern 4
Kentucky 4
South Bend Regional
16 Notre Dame 3
16 Notre Dame 14(5)
Northwestern 5
Ball State 4
16 Notre Dame 15(5)

Knoxville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
9 Florida State 5
Dartmouth 1
9 Florida State 2
UCF 1
South Carolina 1
UCF 5
9 Florida State 5
Tallahassee Regional
UCF 0
Dartmouth 1
South Carolina 3
UCF 5
South Carolina 2
9 Florida State 2 6 1
8 Tennessee 3 1 2
8 Tennessee 2
Longwood 0
8 Tennessee 9(5)
Utah 1
Utah 6
Virginia Tech 1
8 Tennessee 3
Knoxville Regional
Utah 1
Longwood 6(8)
Virginia Tech 4
Utah 2
Longwood 0

Baton Rouge Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
5 LSU 15(5)
Texas Southern 0
5 LSU 0
Arizona State 1
Nebraska 2
Arizona State 5
Arizona State 0 3
Baton Rouge Regional
5 LSU 5 4(9)
Texas Southern 0
Nebraska 5
5 LSU 3(10)
Nebraska 2
5 LSU 8(5) 10
12 Arizona 0 5
12 Arizona 4
St. John's 2
12 Arizona 5
Minnesota 1
Minnesota 10(6)
New Mexico State 2
12 Arizona 2 7(8)
Tucson Regional
Minnesota 5 6
St. John's 6
New Mexico State 9
Minnesota 2
New Mexico State 0

Auburn Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
13 Louisiana–Lafayette 11(5)
Weber State 0
13 Louisiana–Lafayette 3
Baylor 1
Mississippi State 4
Baylor 8
13 Louisiana–Lafayette 2 9(6)
Lafayette Regional
Baylor 6 1
Weber State 0
Mississippi State 2
Baylor 2
Mississippi State 0
13 Louisiana–Lafayette 11 3
4 Auburn 12(8) 6
4 Auburn 4
Tennessee Tech 1
4 Auburn 1
South Alabama 0
South Alabama 11(5)
Chattanooga 1
4 Auburn 7
Auburn Regional
South Alabama 4
Tennessee Tech 8
Chattanooga 2
South Alabama 9
Tennessee Tech 3

Ann Arbor Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
3 Michigan 9(6)
Oakland 1
3 Michigan 9
California 1
Pittsburgh 3
California 11(5)
3 Michigan 10
Ann Arbor Regional
Pittsburgh 3
Oakland 3
Pittsburgh 6
Pittsburgh 6
California 3
3 Michigan 10 7
14 Georgia 3 6
14 Georgia 6
Central Connecticut 1
14 Georgia 1
WKU 2(14)
North Carolina 1
WKU 2
WKU 3 0
Athens Regional
14 Georgia 12(5) 17(5)
Central Connecticut 0
North Carolina 8(5)
North Carolina 5
14 Georgia 6

Tuscaloosa Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
11 Oklahoma 8(5)
Central Arkansas 0
11 Oklahoma 7
Texas A&M 5
Lehigh 1
Texas A&M 2
11 Oklahoma 2
Norman Regional
Texas A&M 0
Central Arkansas 0
Lehigh 3
Texas A&M 5
Lehigh 0
11 Oklahoma 5 0 3
6 Alabama 2 2 5
6 Alabama 8(6)
Fairfield 0
6 Alabama 9(5)
Washington 0
Washington 4
USC Upstate 1
6 Alabama 11
Tuscaloosa Regional
Washington 1
Fairfield 0
USC Upstate 9(6)
Washington 9(5)
USC Upstate 1

Los Angeles Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
7 UCLA 9(5)
Cal State Northridge 1
7 UCLA 4
Texas 1
San Diego State 3
Texas 8
7 UCLA 8(6)
Los Angeles Regional
San Diego State 0
Cal State Northridge 4
San Diego State 5
Texas 3
San Diego State 4(9)
7 UCLA 7 10
10 Missouri 4 6
10 Missouri 7
Indiana State 0
10 Missouri 5
Kansas 3
Kansas 1
Louisville 0
10 Missouri 7
Columbia Regional
Kansas 6
Indiana State 2(8)
Louisville 1
Kansas 2
Indiana State 0

Eugene Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional finals Super regionals
               
15 James Madison 10(5)
Binghamton 1
15 James Madison 0
NC State 2
Fordham 5
NC State 12
NC State 2
Harrisonburg Regional
Fordham 1
Binghamton 0
Fordham 8(5)
Fordham 2
15 James Madison 1
NC State 1 3
2 Oregon 6 9
2 Oregon 8(6)
BYU 0
2 Oregon 4
North Dakota State 3
North Dakota State 4
Fresno State 0
2 Oregon 6
Eugene Regional
North Dakota State 1
BYU 8
Fresno State 7
BYU 0
North Dakota State 7

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held May 28 through June 3, 2015, in Oklahoma City.

Participants

School Conference Record (conference) Head coach WCWS appearances†
(including 2015 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†* WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2015 WCWS)
Alabama SEC 47–13 (17–7) Patrick Murphy 10
(last: 2014)
1st
(2012)
16–17
Auburn SEC 54–9 (18–6) Clint Myers 1 0–0
Florida SEC 55–6 (18–5) Tim Walton 7
(last: 2014)
1st
(2014)
17–11
LSU SEC 50–12 (15–9) Beth Torina 4
(last: 2012)
3rd
(2004)
5–6
Michigan Big Ten 56–6 (21–2) Carol Hutchins 11
(last: 2013)
1st
(2005)
9–20
Oregon Pac-12 51–6 (21–3) Mike White 4
(last: 2014)
3rd
(2014)
5–6
Tennessee SEC 47–15 (15–9) Ralph and Karen Weekly 7
(last: 2013)
2nd
(2007, 2013)
15–12
UCLA Pac-12 50–10 (19–5) Kelly Inouye-Perez 26
(last: 2010)
1st
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990
1992, 1995*, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010)
94–29

Bracket

First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
1 Florida 7
8 Tennessee 2
1 Florida 4
5 LSU 0
5 LSU 6
4 Auburn 1
1 Florida 3(9)
4 Auburn 2
8 Tennessee 2
4 Auburn 4
7 UCLA 10
4 Auburn 11(10)
1 Florida 3 0 4
3 Michigan 2 1 1
3 Michigan 5
6 Alabama 0
3 Michigan 10
7 UCLA 4
7 UCLA 7
2 Oregon 1
3 Michigan 6
5 LSU 3
6 Alabama 2
2 Oregon 1
5 LSU 5
6 Alabama 3

Championship game

[14]

School Top Batter Stats.
Florida Taylor Schwarz (1B) 1–4 2RBI 2Ks
Michigan Sierra Romero (2B) 1–3 RBIs BB
School Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Florida Lauren Haeger (W) 7.0 5 1 1 1 5 26 30
Michigan Haylie Wagner (L) 2.0 4 4 4 0 0 8 12
Michigan Megan Betsa 4.0 1 0 0 3 8 13 21

Record by conference

Conference # of Bids Record Win % RF SR WS NS CS NC
Southeastern 11 50–25 .667 9 8 5 3 1 1
Big Ten 4 13–8 .619 2 1 1 1 1
Pac-12 7 21–15 .583 6 3 2
Atlantic Coast 7 12–14 .462 4 2
Big 12 4 10–8 .556 3 1
Sun Belt 2 5–5 .500 2 1
Colonial 2 2–4 .333
Conference USA 2 4–4 .500 2
Mountain West 2 2–4 .333 1
Other 23 14–46 .233 3

The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, CS, and NC respectively stand for the regional finals, super regionals, College World Series teams, national semifinals, championship series, and national champion.

Media coverage

Radio

Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of the championship series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com and through TuneIn. Kevin Kugler and Leah Amico provided the call for Westwood One.[15]

Television

ESPN held exclusive rights to the tournament, with games airing across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. Regional and super-regional games were broadcast additionally using SEC Network, ESPN3, and SEC Network Plus. Longhorn Network simulcast coverage of games involving the Texas Longhorns.

Coverage of the tournament was highly viewed; the LSU/Michigan and UCLA/Auburn games drew the largest viewership of the bracket round games, coverage of game 3 of the championship series was seen by 2.27 million viewers, and all three games in the championship series had an average viewership of 1.85 million. Viewership of the Women's College World Series was 31% higher than that of the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball tournament held later in the month.[16]

Broadcast assignments

References

  1. ^ "Binghamton Softball wins first-ever 2015 America East Tournament". WICZ-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  2. ^ "Tulsa Softball Falls 1–0 To UCF In AAC Championship". News on 6. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "Florida State takes ACC Softball Championship title". Collegiate Times. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  4. ^ "USC Upstate Stuns Lipscomb, 9–1 to Win A-Sun softball tournament Title". WSPA-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "Sooners Clinch Fourth Straight Big 12 Championship With Win". WSPA-TV. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "Senior Day ends with 40th win and share of Big West Title". The Sundial. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "Hostra tops JMU softball, 2-1, for CAA Tournament title". Augusta Free Press. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "Twice as Nice: Dartmouth Repeats as Ivy Softball Champ". Valley News. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "'Dogs win Mountain West, earn NCAA berth (video)". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Auburn wins SEC softball tournament title in walk-off fashion". AL.com. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "Central Arkansas tops NSU for Southland title". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "NMSU beats Bakersfield twice to win WAC Tournament title". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "Dominant pitching by Bull and Thompson fuel BYU's sweep, clinch WCC title outright". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  14. ^ "Back-To-Back: Florida Defeats Michigan To Earn Second Straight National Championship". Floridagators.com. June 4, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  15. ^ "Upcoming Programming: NCAA Softball Championship on Westwood One". Westwood One. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  16. ^ "Women's College World Series beats Men's counterpart in ratings". Awful Announcing. Retrieved June 28, 2015.