May 8, 2008

Chicago - The Big Ten Network will present exclusive live coverage of the Big Ten Softball Tournament beginning Friday from Evanston, Ill. The final five games of the tournament will be televised, including the championship game at noon CT on Saturday, May 10.

Tournament coverage begins at 9 a.m. CT on Friday, May 9, with quarterfinal action. First, No. 3 seed Iowa (38-17, 14-6 Big Ten) takes on No. 6 Illinois (30-31, 8-12). At 11:30 a.m. CT, No. 4 Minnesota (28-15, 9-7) faces No. 5 Purdue (34-20, 9-9). Coverage continues with both semifinal games at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT.

Tom Werme and Leah Secondo will share play-by-play responsibilities while Eileen Canney and Amanda Scott serve as analysts.

Fifth-ranked Michigan and 12th-ranked Northwestern shared the regular season title with identical 18-2 conference records. After all tiebreakers between the Wolverines and the Wildcats came out equal, Northwestern won the official coin toss to determine this year's tournament host.

This is the first Big Ten regular season title for Michigan since the 2005 season, the same year the Wolverines won the national championship. This also marks the first conference crown for Northwestern since 2006.

2008 Big Ten Softball Tournament Schedule
Sharon J. Drysdale Field - Evanston, Ill.

Thursday, May 8
Game 1: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 7 Michigan State, 2 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Ohio State, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, May 9
Game 3: No. 3 Iowa vs. No. 6 Illinois, 9 a.m. (BTN)
Game 4: No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 5 Purdue 11:30 a.m. (BTN)
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 Winner, 2 p.m. (BTN)
Game 6: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 4:30 p.m. (BTN)

Saturday, May 10
Game 7: Tournament Championship, Noon (BTN)

All Times Central