BTN.com staff, May 18, 2012

Five-time reigning Big Ten champ Michigan and Northwestern won their opening NCAA games Friday to advance to the winner's bracket Saturday. The Wolverines got a walk-off win against Kentucky, 3-2, and the Wildcats shut out No. 6 Texas, 2-0. Up Saturday: Michigan plays Louisville and Northwestern takes on Houston. View the interactive NCAA bracket and read recaps in this post.

MICHIGAN 3, KENTUCKY 2
Facing a 3-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, freshman RHP Sara Driesenga doubled down the left-field line to score two runs as the No. 21-ranked University of Michigan softball team rallied for a 3-2 win over Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Regional on Friday at Ulmer Stadium. Read full recap at MGoBlue.com.

NORTHWESTERN 2, TEXAS 0
After a two-year absence from the NCAA Tournament, perennial national player Northwestern announced its return in 2012 in resounding fashion, getting a five-hit shutout from freshman Amy Letourneau and a 2-0 win over national No. 6 seed Texas in the Wildcats' opening game of the Austin Regional. Read full recap at NUSports.com.