Teams are gearing up for the season’s home stretch, as the final weeks are dawning before conference tournaments and the postseason begin. As some programs seek to establish footing and simply reach the postseason, other teams are riding hot streaks at just the right team, and are primed and ready to make some noise in the postseason. Let’s take a closer look at some of those teams.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 29-15 (15-6)
>>> Since April dawned, the Tar Heels have: Swept Virginia with a trio of run-rule shutouts; recorded non-conference wins over Coastal Carolina, Liberty, and Campbell; and posted series wins in back-to-back conference matchups against the ACC’s two ranked teams, Florida State and Virginia Tech. While the stellar pitching against Virginia started the month off on a high note, the Tar Heels’ performances over the last two weekends have raised eyebrows, dropped jaws, and solidified the program’s position as a serious contender in the ACC race. With an early-season showing that included wins over South Carolina, Georgia, Northwestern, and a pair of victories against Michigan, the Heels are quietly having an impressive campaign. Their remaining schedule includes a trio of midweek matchups against mid-major, in-state opponents, as well as an ACC road series against Louisville.
Sam Houston State Bearkats
Record: 26-19 (17-4)
>>> In the first season after a transfer of power at the head coaching position, the Bearkats have performed beyond expectations for rookie head coach Garrett Valis. The Bearkats are currently riding a ten-game winning streak, and are 10-1 in the month of April, with the sole loss coming as a 2-0 defeat at the hands of North Texas on April 3rd. During the active winning streak, the Bearkats have earned four run-rule wins over conference opponents, as well as a non-conference victory over UT-Arlington. Valis’ program took the series win on the road at Nicholls at the end of March and have lost just one conference series, to Northwestern State in a series that opened Southland play. Senior pitching ace Lindsey McLeod leads the team from the circle, and currently boasts an active streak of 40 consecutive scoreless innings, a mark that ties a school record set in 1986. A road series against Incarnate Word next weekend will give way to an important 4-game final stretch for the Bearkats, a week that includes a non-conference matchup at Houston and a three-game home series against an upstart Stephen F. Austin club.
Arizona Wildcats
Record: 38-7 (15-0)
>>> 2019 could be the Wildcats’ best chance at returning to the Women’s College World Series in several years, as they attempt to return to via for a spot atop the sport’s pinnacle for the first time since 2010. Legendary head coach Mike Candrea, one of just two NCAA coaches with 1,600 career wins after reaching the milestone this weekend, owns eight career national championships, but has not taken home the WCWS trophy since 2007. Behind a batting order loaded with pop and a pitching staff that has increased depth and effectiveness, the Wildcats could be primed for a run at a championship. After an 18-7 showing in the early season, non-conference portion of the schedule, the Wildcats are perfect in conference play and have not lost since March 10th against Florida State. Three conference series’ remain, including a road series versus Cal; a three-game homestand versus Washington; and a trip to Los Angeles to take on UCLA to end the regular season in a three-game set that is sure to be must-see softball.
North Dakota State Bison
Record: 33-12 (11-1)
>>> The longstanding favorites in the Summit League and perennial postseason contenders, the Bison entered the weekend series with South Dakota with first place in the conference standings on the line. Three games behind the Coyotes in the win column coming into the weekend – and having played three fewer conference games, thus far – the Bison quickly dispatched their opponents in the weekend series, shutting out the Coyotes in all three games. After an 8-inning affair in the series opener that eventually swung the Bison’s way, NDSU scored seventeen runs in the final two games of the series combined, including a 10-run onslaught that resulted in a run-rule victory in game two of the series. With three games against South Dakota now in the books, the Bison have recorded eight shutouts in conference play this season, including five in their last six Summit League games. After a series win over South Dakota State – a series that included the only loss thus-far for the Bison in conference play – and the sweep of South Dakota, the remaining slate should be something of a breeze for NDSU, with home series’ against Omaha and North Dakota, who currently sit fifth and seventh, respectively, among seven teams in the conference standings.
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
Record: 42-4 (21-0)
>>> Gerry Glasco’s Ragin’ Cajuns have lost all of twice in the last two months of softball, to then-#4 Oklahoma on March 1st and in eleven innings to McNeese State on March 20th. Surrounding the pair of losses are a perfect 21-0 showing against Sun Belt opponents and an otherwise-blemishless 6-0 non-conference record that includes wins over Baylor, Nicholls, and in a rematch against McNeese. The Cajuns’ impressive showing in Sun Belt play has already clinched the conference regular-season championship and #1 seed in the league tournament, with two weeks left in the regular season. Glasco’s squad of offensive stars have posted nineteen run-rule victories on the year, while his pitching staff – led by ace Summer Ellyson – own sixteen shutout victories on the season. The Cajuns’ remaining schedule includes a midweek visit to Louisiana Tech that could be a trap game for the squad, before they head back home for a three-game home set with Coastal Carolina. The Cajuns will wrap up the regular season on the road against Louisiana-Monroe.
Liberty Flames
Record: 33-16 (15-3)
>>> After a sluggish start to the season – the Flames currently sit at 5-6 in netural site contests – Dot Richardson’s squad has rebounded and performed near to expectations in their first season in the ASun conference. A series loss in the ASun opener against Kennesaw State seemed to be laying the groundwork for what could have been a subpar performance in conference play, but the Flames rebounded and have not lost a conference series since that point. A series win over Lipscomb followed, while the Flames are currently riding a 12-game conference winning streak that includes series sweeps over Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson, North Florida, and Jacksonville. A 2-4 record in midweek play since conference play began on March 15th seems startling, though a look below the surface reflects a quartet of one-run losses, including three to teams that are virtual locks to appear in the NCAA tournament, in Tennessee; James Madison; and North Carolina. While the Flames may have a bit more work to do than anyone else on this list, they are trending upward at the right time, riding a streak of four consecutive series sweeps, and will close their regular season with a road series against a resilient North Alabama team and a pair of home midweek games against Radford and Longwood.
Image (c) Rebecca Sasnett for Arizona Athletics / via arizonawildcats.com
