Big Ten Softball Tournament Bracket Released; Rutgers University #11 Seed

The 2016 Big Ten Softball Tournament bracket has been released. Rutgers University, who fell three games to none this weekend against #2 ranked Michigan, will be the #11 seed. They will be facing Ohio State on Thursday at 12 pm ET. The tournament will follow a single elimination format, with the Championship game set for Saturday May, 14 at Beard Field, in State College, PA.

#RUSB opens the #B1G tournament as the No. 11 seed and will play No. 6 seed Ohio State on Thursday at 12 EST: https://t.co/r4s2v3Htdq

— Rutgers Softball (@RUSoftball) May 8, 2016

The Rutgers Women's Softball team had a tough series against the #2 ranked Michigan at Alumni field in Ann Arbor Michigan this weekend. The Wolverines were the highest ranked opponent that Rutgers has faced this season. Rutgers fell 0-3 to the Wolverines in the series and will end their regular season with a record of 24-32. Despite the losses, the Scarlet Knights showed a lot of fight through the entire series.

Freshman pitcher Whitney Jones stepped in during game one on Friday, after three runs were scored in the first. Jones came into the game with three on and only one out.   Although Michigan scored 6 runs through two innings, Jones held them to back to back shutout innings. Jones also returned to pitch a complete game three.

The lack of offense was the majority of the problem for Rutgers. Through the three game series the Scarlet Knights scored a total of two runs. Leading the team in hits for the weekend were Junior Bridget Carr with three hits, and Freshman Nicole Anico with three hits and one RBI.

By sweeping Rutgers in this series, Michigan has clinched the top seed in the tournament, and it's 20th Conference Championship. They will also receive a first round bye, along with #2 Minnesota, #3 Northwestern, and #4 Penn State. Rutgers will have to bring their big bats in this next game against Ohio State. The winner will go on to face #3 Northwestern on Friday afternoon.

The complete bracket is as follows:

Thursday May, 12

Game 1- 12pm

#6 Ohio State vs. #11 Rutgers

Game 2- 2:30pm

#7 Illinois vs. #10 Michigan State

Game 3- 5:30 pm

#5 Nebraska vs. #12 Purdue

Game 4- 8 pm

#8 Wisconsin vs. #9 Indiana

Friday May, 13

Game 5- 12 pm

#3 Northwestern vs. Winner of Game 1

Game 6- 2:30 pm

#2 Minnesota vs. Winner of Game 2

Game 7- 5:30 pm

#4 Penn State vs. Winner of Game 3

Game 8- 8 pm

#1 Michigan vs. Winner of Game 4

Saturday May, 14

Game 9- 1 pm

Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6

Game 10- 3:30 pm

Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

Championship Game- 6:30pm

The entire tournament can be seen live on the Big Ten Network