NCAA Softball Championships 2015: Complete Field, Schedule and Predictions

Three of these things are not like the others.

The 2015 NCAA softball championship field is set, and five of the eight teams hail from the SEC. Only Oregon, Michigan and UCLA come from outside of the nation’s strongest conference, as Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama will look to turn Oklahoma City into the second version of the SEC tournament.

Despite the overload of teams from one league, this tournament promises to be one of the most entertaining in years. The eight-team field consists of the top eight national seeds, which means the eventual champion must navigate a minefield of quality opposition.

The SEC may stake its claim as the best league in the country this year (just look at that field), but it still only has two national titles in the sport outside of the two Texas A&M won while it was still in the Big 12. Softball historically belongs to the Pac-12, and Oregon and UCLA plan to keep it that way.

Here is a look at the complete field, bracket and schedule, per SEC Sports, and a prediction for the national champion:

Predicted Champion

The Pac-12 may have the more impressive softball history, but the SEC flexed its muscles this year, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:

What’s more, the nation’s top seed happens to be the defending champion. Florida parlayed its 2014 title into an incredible 55-6 record this season and will ultimately take home yet another title in 2015.

The fact that Florida is here as the No. 1 seed is incredible as it is, and now it has the opportunity to win back-to-back titles. Yes, it won the national championship last season, but it also lost all but two starters.

Still, a loaded freshman class, an incredible defense and a shutdown ace was more than enough to steamroll through the regular season and Super Regional against Kentucky on the way to the Women’s College World Series. It is the seventh time the past eight seasons Florida has cracked the final field of eight.

Pitcher Lauren Haeger is a major reason why the Gators are still alive. Florida has not allowed a single run in five postseason games, and Haeger pitched a shutout in four of those contests. She stymied the Kentucky Wildcats in the Super Regional and is a deadly force, especially with the nation’s best defense behind her.

That’s right, the Gators are No. 1 in the country in fielding percentage, per NCAA.com, which doesn’t exactly seem fair to the rest of the field.

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Coach Tim Walton put things perfectly, per Chris Harry of GatorZone.com: “Lauren didn’t say it right. If you don’t give up a run, you can’t ever lose.”

The offense is also formidable enough to support Haeger and ranks 19th in the country in runs per game, per NCAA.com. Naturally, Haeger is a legitimate power bat in the middle of the order and belted 16 home runs this season. The combination of Haeger, Bailey Castro (17 home runs) and Taylore Fuller (13 home runs) is one of the most dangerous in the country.

Florida is also battle-tested from a season in the SEC. The Gators beat Michigan and Oregon during the regular season as well and will take home the national championship.

Haeger is simply that good.