Posted 05/15/17, 8:16 PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AM News Net)  –  NCAA Softball's Selection Committee announced their picks for which teams will be moving on to the road to the 2017 Women's College World Series (WCWS) on ESPN2. 32 conferences were qualified automatically, while the other 32 spaces were selected by the committee.

57% of the Big 12 teams qualified, the most since 2015. 2016 WCWS champions Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Texas will be moving on to regionals, with the top two playing at home. The Sooners will play North Dakota State on Thursday, right after their sixth straight Big 12 regular season title and its fifth postseason crown, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Oklahoma State.

The Southeastern Conference will be sending 13 teams to regionals, the most of any conference. The SEC teams will not compete against each-other yet, however, as opponents will be chosen by geographic proximity, except for teams in the same conference.

While for many conferences, whether it be the SEC, Big 12, or the Pac-12, which had eight teams qualify, the news may be cause to celebrate, there is no shortage of controversy. 

Softball fans hounded the selection committee over its decision not to select the University of Minnesota as a top seed. The Minnesota Gophers, who are 54-3 overall, will be up against Alabama (16) in regionals, where the Crimson Tide will also have home-field advantage.

NCAA further tweeted a message this evening to explain their decision, causing even more of an uproar:

"When selecting the top 16 seeds the committee emphasizes a team's performance against Top 25 teams along with other variables including strength of schedule," the release says.

The statement goes on to explain that Minnesota had a strength of schedule of 114, while the top 16 teams' ranged from 1-36.

The explanation had little effect to assuage angry fans.

"Just 9 days ago Minnesota was ranked number 7 by the same committee," A user by the name of Kevin tweeted in response. "You're saying winning out the rest of the schedule moves them 10 spots?"

Others seemed to imply money from ESPN influenced committee members.

"Just like normal your B.S. [sic] makes no sense," Tony Stedry said. "Admit that the money of SEC teams is why you made the decision. Please list committee members!"

Curtis Hayes said the same.

"U screwed up & now u r justifying your decision, [sic]" he said. "How did all 13 sec [sic] teams make the tournament? NCAA selling out 2 ESPN $$ & SEC again [sic]."

ESPN has secured the rights to broadcast every game from all 16 regionals for the first time ever, but it is not evident what influence, if any, ESPN had on the committee.

More college sports coverage can be found here.

© 2017 AM News Net. All rights reserved. None of this material may be published, rewritten, broadcasted, or redistributed in anyway without expressed written permission from AM News Net.