Michigan softball team 2 wins from a Women's College World Series berth

Michigan senior third baseman Maggie Viefhaus says the Wolverines are eager to face Tennessee. "I just want to play our games. I don’t want to practice,’” Viefhaus said. “I just want to play our games right now.”

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Maggie Viefhaus and Molly Bausher played sand volleyball, ran through sprinklers and, on their way home, took a trip past Alumni Field while enjoying a day off Monday.

As the two Michigan softball seniors walked by the field, they talked. While it didn’t hit either of them that win or lose this week’s best-of-three games Super Regional against Tennessee will be the last time they play at home, they recognized one thing.

They're ready to play.

“I was just like, ‘I just want to play our games. I don’t want to practice,’” Viefhaus said. “I just want to play our games right now.”

This has been a team that has set lofty goals throughout the season, both individually and as a group. The senior class was the one that entered Michigan the year after the Wolverines’ 2005 national championship.

Viefhaus and first baseman Dorian Shaw set a preseason goal of hitting 50 combined home runs. At 40, they are 10 away. As a team, most players talk about the goal of reaching the Women’s College World Series and winning a national championship.

After all, this is a team that for the last two months has used the Connecticut women’s basketball team - the most well-known dynasty in women’s sports - as an inspiration.

“We’ve accomplished a lot this year, a lot of our goals with the Big Ten championship, we’ve won regionals and our next step is Super Regionals to get us to our ultimate goal of being a national champion,” Bausher said. “But getting there is a big feat in itself, so this weekend is going to be our next step to get closer.

“That’s what we’re focusing on right now.”

Now, Michigan (49-6) is two wins against Tennessee (45-13) from reaching it.

The Wolverines have reached the Super Regional stage every year since the round began in the 2005 season.

“They know what to expect and know how to compete and win at this level when the stakes are as high as they are,” Michigan pitching coach Jen Brundage said. “Our kids have the experience to understand that it doesn’t change the way they approach the game or play the game.

“They just need to approach the game the way they have all season long.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.