Big Ten softball tournament

American collegiate postseason softball tournament

Big Ten softball tournament

Sport| Softball
Conference| Big Ten Conference
Number of teams| 12
Format| Single elimination
Current stadium| Eichelberger Field
Current location| Champaign, Illinois
Played| 1982, 1995–2008, 2013–present
Last contest| 2024
Current champion| Michigan
Most championships| Michigan (11)
TV partner(s)| BTN

The Big Ten softball tournament is the conference championship tournament in softball for the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament.

## History

[edit]

The Big Ten softball tournament began in 1982 and then took a hiatus until the tournament was reinstated in 1995. The tournament was held from 1995–2008 until the Big Ten switched back to using the regular season champion for the automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten reinstated the conference tournament in 2013 and has been held at the conclusion of the regular season ever since. Tournaments held in 1982 and 1995–2003 used a double elimination format. Tournaments from 2004–2008 and 2013–present have used a single elimination format.[1][2]

The inaugural tournament in 1982 included Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Ohio State, which were the only Big Ten schools with varsity softball programs at the time.[3] Penn State started Big Ten play in 1992 after a few years of independence and playing in the Atlantic 10 Conference.[4] Purdue began their program in 1995, followed by Wisconsin in 1996 and Illinois in 2001. Nebraska left the Big 12 Conference and joined the Big Ten for the 2012 season, and then Maryland and Rutgers came on board in 2015 from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East Conference, respectively.

When USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington join the Big Ten Conference for the 2024–25 school year, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington will begin league play for the 2025 season.[5][6] As of 2022, USC does not have a softball program nor any intention of starting one up after performing a study around 2002.[7]

## Champions

[edit]

### By year

[edit]

Year  | School  | Site

|
|

1982 | Northwestern | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1995 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1996 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1997 | Michigan | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
1998 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1999 | Minnesota | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2000 | Michigan | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2001 | Iowa | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2002 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2003 | Iowa | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2004 | Michigan State | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2005 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2006 | Michigan | Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2007 | Ohio State | Buckeye Field • Columbus, OH
2008 | Northwestern | Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2013 | Wisconsin | Bowlin Stadium • Lincoln, NE
2014 | Minnesota | Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2015 | Michigan | Buckeye Field • Columbus, OH
2016 | Minnesota | Beard Field • State College, PA
2017 | Minnesota | Alumni Field • Ann Arbor, MI
2018 | Minnesota | Goodman Softball Complex • Madison, WI
2019 | Michigan | Andy Mohr Field • Bloomington, IN
2020  | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022 | Nebraska | Secchia Stadium • East Lansing, MI
2023 | Northwestern | Eichelberger Field • Champaign, IL
2024 | Michigan | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA

### By school

[edit]

School  | Titles  | Years Won  | First Year in Tournament  | Began Big Ten Play

|
|
|
|

Michigan | 11  | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019, 2024  | 1982  | 1982
Minnesota | 5  | 1999, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018  | 1982  | 1982
Northwestern | 3  | 1982, 2008, 2023  | 1982  | 1982
Iowa | 2  | 2001, 2003  | 1982  | 1982
Michigan State | 1  | 2004  | 1982  | 1982
Nebraska | 1  | 2022  | 2013  | 2012
Ohio State | 1  | 2007  | 1982  | 1982
Wisconsin | 1  | 2013  | 2000  | 1996
Illinois | 0  | –  | 2001  | 2001
Indiana | 0  | –  | 1982  | 1982
Maryland | 0  | –  | 2015  | 2015
Penn State | 0  | –  | 1999  | 1992
Purdue | 0  | –  | 1997  | 1995
Rutgers | 0  | –  | 2015  | 2015

## See also

[edit]

List of Big Ten Conference softball champions

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Softball Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
2. ^ "Softball Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
3. ^ "2021 B1G Softball Record Book, pg. 3" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
4. ^ "2022 PSU Softball Media Guide". Retrieved June 2, 2022.
5. ^ "USC to Make Historic Move to Big Ten Conference in 2024". USC Athletics. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
6. ^ "UCLA to Join Big Ten Conference at Start of 2024-25 Season". UCLA. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
7. ^ Chan, Chris. "Why USC has No Softball Team". Softball Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Big Ten softball tournament

* 1982
* 1983–1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009–2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* ~~2021~~
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Big Ten Conference softball

Teams|

* Illinois Fighting Illini
* Indiana Hoosiers
* Iowa Hawkeyes
* Maryland Terrapins
* Michigan Wolverines
* Michigan State Spartans
* Minnesota Golden Gophers
* Nebraska Cornhuskers
* Northwestern Wildcats
* Ohio State Buckeyes
* Oregon Ducks
* Penn State Nittany Lions
* Purdue Boilermakers
* Rutgers Scarlet Knights
* UCLA Bruins
* Washington Huskies
* Wisconsin Badgers

Championships & awards|

* Big Ten Conference softball tournament
* List of Big Ten Conference softball champions
* Coach of the Year
* Player of the Year
* Pitcher of the Year
* Freshman of the Year

* v
* t
* e

Big Ten Conference championships

Men's|

* Baseball
* Basketball
* Football
* Ice hockey
* Lacrosse
* Soccer
* Wrestling

Women's|

* Basketball
* Lacrosse
* Soccer
* Softball

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I softball conference tournaments

* ACC
* America East
* American
* ASUN
* Atlantic 10
* Big Ten
* Big 12
* Big East
* Big Sky
* Big South
* CAA
* CUSA
* Horizon
* Ivy
* MAAC
* Mid-American
* MEAC
* Missouri Valley
* Northeast
* Ohio Valley
* Pac-12
* Patriot
* SEC
* Southern
* Southland
* Summit League
* SWAC
* Sun Belt
* WAC

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template