Latest news with #SelectionShow
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Despite losing to LSU, Texas A&M's pitching future looks bright
Despite losing to LSU, Texas A&M's pitching future looks bright Texas A&M (30-26, 12-20 SEC) couldn't muster more than three runs against the LSU Tigers on Friday night during the Quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament, which all but eliminates the Aggies from making the NCAA Tournament. However, stranger things have happened, so be prepared for a potential shock during Monday's Selection Show. Still, I highly doubt the Aggies make it in based on their resume, which may include four SEC series wins, including victories over Tennessee, Arkansas, and LSU. However, the bizarre series loss to Missouri, paired with losing two out of three vs. Georgia to end the regular season, was likely the final straw for the selection committee. Even with the loss, the incredible comeback play of junior outfielder Jace LaViolette, who broke a bone in his left hand on Thursday afternoon, was awesome to watch, as the future first-round MLB Draft selection drove in two of the Aggies' three runs on the night. Outside of LaViolette's heroic performance, Texas A&M's pitching, which was brilliant throughout the week, deserves a lot of credit for giving the Aggies a chance. Ryan Prager and Justin Lamkin combined for 11 strikeouts and just two runs against Mississippi State and Auburn, while Myles Patton and especially sophomore Clayton Freshcorn were more than serviceable on Friday night. Two of LSU's four runs were due to defensive mistakes by Texas A&M, so Patton shouldn't receive any blame for the loss. Freshcorn, who relieved Patton after 4.2 innings, played the best game of his A&M career, holding the Tigers hitless with five strikeouts, showing every Aggie fan frustrated with this previous play why Earley believes in his ability as a future star closer. While Michael Earley's future with the program is in flux, whatever happens over the next couple of days or weeks will determine Freshcorn's trajectory in College Station. The 2026 pitching staff will look very different next season with Prager headed to the MLB, which could also include Lamkin after his impressive performance this season. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
NCAA Softball Committee Chair explains why Texas A&M earned No. 1 seed
REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball tournament format: How bracket works in 2025 Texas A&M finished the season ranked No. 1 in RPI and hoped that it would be enough to get them the No. 1 overall seed over the Sooners, who won the SEC regular season championship. NCAA Softball Committee Chair Kurt McGuffin talked to ESPN's Holly Rowe during the Selection Show to discuss why the Aggies earned the No. 1 seed. "I think what sets apart Texas A&M was 19 top 25 wins, which is No. 1 in the country," McGuffin said. "They also had two quality nonconference wins vs. Florida State and Texas Tech. I think those were the two pieces that set them for the No. 1 seed." The bracket has been revealed! ???? NCAA Softball Committee Chair, Kurt McGuffin, discusses the committee's decisions.#RoadToWCWS x ???? ESPN2 — NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 11, 2025 Texas A&M will open the Bryan-College Station Regional by hosting Saint Francis (PA) at 3:30 p.m. ET on May 16. The Aggies will also host Marist and Liberty. If they advance, they are poised to play the winner of the Eugene Regional and No. 16 Oregon.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NCAA Softball Committee Chair Kurt McGuffin explains why Texas A&M is No. 1 over Oklahoma
NCAA Softball Committee Chair Kurt McGuffin explains why Texas A&M is No. 1 over Oklahoma Show Caption Hide Caption Legally blind pitcher Jenica Matos to play D1 softball The Cheshire High School star in Connecticut can't see home plate but threw three no-hitters last year and will play Division I for the Red Storm. Texas A&M softball is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA softball tournament for the first time ever. The Aggies finished third in the SEC standings during the regular season but reached the SEC Softball Tournament championship game against Oklahoma. However, with the game being washed out due to inclement weather, Texas A&M could not prove it could defeat the defending champions just yet. REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball tournament format: How bracket works in 2025 Texas A&M finished the season ranked No. 1 in RPI and hoped that it would be enough to get them the No. 1 overall seed over the Sooners, who won the SEC regular season championship. NCAA Softball Committee Chair Kurt McGuffin talked to ESPN's Holly Rowe during the Selection Show to discuss why the Aggies earned the No. 1 seed. "I think what sets apart Texas A&M was 19 top 25 wins, which is No. 1 in the country," McGuffin said. "They also had two quality nonconference wins vs. Florida State and Texas Tech. I think those were the two pieces that set them for the No. 1 seed." Texas A&M will open the Bryan-College Station Regional by hosting Saint Francis (PA) at 3:30 p.m. ET on May 16. The Aggies will also host Marist and Liberty. If they advance, they are poised to play the winner of the Eugene Regional and No. 16 Oregon.
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska softball's Big Ten run ends in 4-2 defeat against No. 9 UCLA
AI-assisted summary No. 19 Nebraska softball lost to No. 9 UCLA 4-2 in the Big Ten semi-finals. Nebraska scored two runs in the sixth inning but ultimately fell short. Jordy Bahl pitched a complete game for Nebraska, recording 11 strikeouts. Nebraska awaits its NCAA Tournament fate during the Selection Show on Sunday. The No. 19 Nebraska softball team (39-13) entered the Big Ten semi-finals on Friday afternoon, facing off against No. 9 UCLA (49-9). In a close game, the Huskers fell 4-2. The Bruins got on the board in the first, before adding two more in the fourth off a two-run home run. Nebraska responded in the sixth, scoring two runs. But UCLA pushed its lead to 4-2 with another home run in the sixth. The Huskers then went three-up, three-down, ending their Big Ten run. Nebraska struck five hits in the game for two RBIs while the Bruins delivered nine hits for four RBIs. Hannah Camenzind hit 2-for-3 on the day, driving in both of the Huskers' runs with a two-run RBI triple. Ava Bredwell, Ava Kuszak and Samantha Bland all earned a hit in the loss. Jordyn Bahl (23-6) took the loss in the circle, pitching another complete game, allowing four runs off nine hits. She did fire 11 strikeouts in the loss, earning her ninth double-digit strikeout game of the year. Bahl also brought her season total up to 254, which puts her 9th in school history. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle The Huskers will await its fate for the 2025 NCAA Tournament in the Selection Show on Sunday night. The show is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Contact/Follow us@CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC basketball vs San Diego State prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament First Four
UNC basketball vs San Diego State prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament First Four UNC basketball will enter the 2025 NCAA Tournament with its lowest seed in program history. The 11th-seeded Tar Heels (22-13) were revealed as the final at-large bid on the Selection Show, meaning they'll start March Madness in Dayton for the First Four on Tuesday (9:10 p.m., TruTV). UNC plays No. 11 seed San Diego State (21-9), with the winner earning a matchup with No. 6 seed Ole Miss (22-11) in the round of 64 on Friday (4:05 p.m., TNT) in Milwaukee as part of the South Region. BUY UNC FIRST FOUR TICKETS The Tar Heels are making their 54th NCAA Tournament appearance and are 2-0 against the Aztecs, but the programs haven't played since 1990. Both meetings were in the regular season under head coach Dean Smith. San Diego State is in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season and head coach Brian Dutcher has been to six of the seven March Madness events in his tenure. MARCH MADNESS PICKS: Who will win March Madness? NCAA Tournament bracket predictions, Final Four picks HOW UNC GOT IN: Why did UNC basketball make the NCAA Tournament, First Four of March Madness? SURVIVOR POOL: Free to enter. $2,500 to win. Can you survive the madness? Here are some players to watch and a score prediction for the First Four matchup between UNC and San Diego State. RJ Davis gets final run with UNC basketball in March Madness Following a 4-for-10 shooting performance in an ACC Tournament loss to Duke, fifth-year guard RJ Davis will get a shot at one final run in March Madness with the Tar Heels. Davis averaged 15.1 points across his first 10 NCAA Tournament games. He had 20 or more points in two of three March Madness games as a senior, leading the Tar Heels to the Sweet 16. But an 0-for-9 shooting night from 3-point range against Alabama left a sour taste in his mouth. The New York guard will have an opportunity to make a new memory this March. Jae'Lyn Withers chance for redemption Jae'Lyn Withers was among the main reasons UNC remained in the mix for a March Madness bid. With a 43.9% clip from beyond the arc, Withers has filled the all-important 4 spot in the lineup for head coach Hubert Davis. But Withers was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons against Duke, committing a lane violation that proved costly during UNC's comeback bid against the Blue Devils. His teammates rallied around him in that moment. Now, like Davis, Withers will play in the NCAA Tournament with a chance to make that mistake a distant memory. Ven-Allen Lubin vs Magoon Gwath in matchup for UNC vs San Diego State San Diego State 7-footer Magoon Gwath — the Mountain West freshman of the year and defensive player of the year — hyperextended his right knee and has missed the last five games for the Aztecs. Gwath could be back for the First Four, but whether he plays or not, UNC's Ven-Allen Lubin should ride a wave of confidence into the Big Dance. Lubin had three straight double-doubles in the ACC Tournament, averaging 15.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward will have to stay in attack mode against an SDSU defense that leads the nation in block percentage (18.5%) and is 13th nationally in efficiency. UNC vs San Diego State odds in NCAA bracket Game lines and odds from BetMGM will be posted as they become available. Spread: UNC is a 4.5-point favorite Over/under: 143.5 points Moneyline: UNC (-198), San Diego State (+164) UNC vs San Diego State prediction: March Madness First Four UNC 75, San Diego State 69: The Tar Heels almost missed out on a chance to be a part of March Madness. Following their late-game struggles in a loss to Duke, UNC will grow from that experience to start the Big Dance with a big win. The Aztecs are elite defensively, but they won't quite score enough to keep up with UNC. Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@ We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
