Three Reasons for the Top Five to win 2016 WCWS

College Softball is entering it’s final stretch heading into conference tournaments and the 2016 WCWS. Let’s look at five reasons for each of USA Today/NFCA top five teams.

No. 1 Florida (41-3)

1. Pitching has been nothing less than stellar for the Gators. They carry a team ERA of 0.84 and have held opponents to just a .159 batting average and have only given up nine home runs. Leading the Gators is freshman Kelly Barnhill who is 14-0 with a 1.33 ERA. Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio is 14-1 with an amazing 0.49 ERA. Finally there is junior Delanie Gourley who sits with a 13-2 record and a 0.76 ERA.  It is hard to lose games when you rarely give up runs.
2. Defense is the name of the game at Florida. The Gators lead the nation in fielding percentage (.983), which in not far off the NCAA single season record of .988. They play as a unit and rarely make mistakes. Combine that with the pitching and they can shut teams down.
3. Balance in the their order makes them tough. They may not have some of the eye popping power numbers that some of the others produce, but in the end their line-up produces runs. The Gators have eight of their 10 everyday players batting above .300 and are led by sophomore Kayli Kvistad and her .427 average and team leading nine home runs. They have some pop and a good mix of speed.

No. 2 Michigan (33-4)

1. The Wolverines are an explosive offense that can put runs on the board. They are currently second in the country in runs per game (8.30) and fifth in slugging percentage (.583). They have outscored opponents 315-99.
2. Much like Florida above, Michigan has a solid defense ranking fifth in the nation with a .977 fielding percentage. They are an athletic defense that can keep them in games.
3. The final reason is that they are a seasoned team led by a core group of upper clansman that have played together for sometime. Experience can be very important when it comes to the WCWS. Although we can not quantify it, we all know it plays a big role.

No. 3 Auburn (41-4)

1. If you have seen the Tigers play this year you know that they can change a game in a hurry from the plate. They are averaging 9.33 runs per game, which is top in the country. They have three plays in double digit home runs in senior Jade Rose (16), junior Kasey Cooper (15) and senior Emily Carosone (10).
2. Improved defense has also helped Auburn this season although from a statistical standpoint they are on par with last season. Often errors hurt more by their timing then the fact an error occurred. This season they seem to be making less mistakes at crucial times than they did last season. Of course that is strictly an opinion but it is what we have observed.
3. Auburn has also seen a rather dramatic improvement from their pitching staff. In 2015 they held a team ERA if 3.39 and in 2016 they have cut that in more than half posting a 1.56 ERA to this point. That can certainly help a team win more games. North Carolina transfer, sophomore Kaylee Carlson is 12-0 on the season with a 0.86 ERA. Last year at North Carolina she was 18-10 with a 3.32 ERA.

No. 4 Alabama (38-8)

1. Balance is the key to the Crimson Tide success. They are not going to wow you in anyone statistical category, other then the fact they win a lot of softball games. They have not dominated as they have in years past, but they did take two of three against top ranked Florida already this year. They play good defense, have solid pitching, clutch hitters and a good balance of power and speed.
2. The pitching staff for Alabama is diverse and consistent. Coach Murphy has three solid options in junior Sydney Littlejohn (17-3), freshman Madi Moore (9-0) and sophomore Alexis Osorio (12-5).  Used in the right way they can be a very effective group and there is little doubt that Murphy will have that figured out come May.
3. Finally Alabama likes to score early, when they do they are impressive. They are 31-0 and when leading after four innings of play. They have a very stout top of their order and will rely on them this post season.

No. 5 Oregon (32-6)

1. The Ducks may prove to be one of the more dangerous teams when the WCWS rolls around. They are ranked in the top three in all four major offensive categories. They are first in batting average (.366), third in scoring (8.16), first in slugging percentage (.654) and second in home runs per game (1.68).
2. Oregon also has a solid pitching staff despite some struggles from staff ace senior Cheridan Hawkins. She seems to be doing well now winning 18 of her last 19 starts. Both senior Geri Ann Glasco and freshman Megan Kleist have performed well combining for a 19-3 record. As a staff they carry a decent 2.40 ERA.
3. Aggressive play may be a key piece to Oregon doing well in post season. They have speed and power and are not afraid to be aggressive on the bases.  That puts pressure on defenses and can lead to errors.