In any other year, the Big Ten softball race would have been a dogfight.
But this is not just any year.
For the first time in the history of Big Ten conference play, one team has finished the season undefeated. Unfortunately for the Michigan softball team, the glory goes to Iowa.
Michigan (18-4 Big Ten, 48-13-1 overall) has won 13 straight games in the Big Ten and enters the conference tournament this weekend in Iowa City.
Michigan has been successful over the last three weeks of the Big Ten season, sweeping Minnesota, Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State. Michigan's last loss came at Northwestern on April 13.
The outstanding pitching of senior Kelly Holmes allowed Michigan to take second place in the Big Ten, behind only Iowa's undefeated mark.
"We think that we've had one of our best Big Ten seasons," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "We lost our premier player - Sara Griffin. And our team regrouped, found it's new identity and found a new leader in Kelly Holmes."
On April 28, Holmes was named Big Ten pitcher of the week for the second consecutive week after picking up five wins and pitching 32 innings over the seven-day span.
This weekend, the Wolverines head to Iowa looking for their third consecutive Big Ten title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
In previous years, such an outstanding record would make the Wolverines overwhelming favorites to win the tournament. However, in previous years, Iowa (22-0, 46-5) was not as dominant as it was this season.
"It is just unbelievable to think that anybody in this country could go undefeated in the conference," Hutchins said.
Michigan's star pitcher Sara Griffin will not return this weekend, as expected, from a broken arm she suffered April 5.
Michigan kicks off the tournament Friday against Michigan State (14-9, 44-18). If Michigan wins, it will play the winner of the Iowa-Purdue game Friday evening. Michigan will play the loser of that game if Michigan State wins.
Purdue (14-10, 41-23) enters the field as the fourth seed in the tournament.
Because of the double-elimination format of the tournament, the eventual winner will have to win three games and possibly play four. The championship game will be played Saturday afternoon.
Michigan should know what to expect from the Spartans after sweeping them, 1-0 and 4-1, on April 22. The Spartans, who finished the Big Ten with a 14-9 record, were second in the Big Ten when the teams met. After Michigan State was swept by Iowa the following weekend, Michigan jumped into second place, where it finished the season.
Michigan can assure itself a bid to the NCAA tournament and a chance to host an NCAA regional by winning the title in Iowa City. The Wolverines just have to hope Iowa loses - something Iowa has not done in the Big Ten since 1996.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
It wouldn't be a stretch to say that shortstop Pam Kosanke and the Michigan softball team finished the Big Ten season with a bang. The Wolverines concluded 18-4.
| Up next |
| What: Big Ten softball championship |
| Who: Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa and Purdue |
| When: Friday and Saturday |
| Where: Iowa City |