University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass To Host 2008 NCAA Softball Regional, May 16-18
May 12, 2008 | Softball
May 12, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - The Massachusetts Softball Team (39-11) will host a regional for the third straight season it was announced by the selection committee live on ESPNU Sunday evening. The Minutewomen are the No. 2 seed in the Amherst Regional and will face third-seeded Princeton (25-22) Friday at 5:00 PM. Stanford (46-12) is the top seed in the region and will play fourth-seeded Lehigh (38-15-1) Friday at 2:30 PM. The Cardinal are the No. 12 national seed. The regional (May 16-18) is double-elimination and runs through Sunday at the UMass Softball Complex. The winner of the Amherst Regional will match up with the winner of the College Station, Tx., Regional between No. 5 Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Auburn in the Super Regionals.
This is the 14th straight and 18th overall NCAA Tournament for the Minutewomen. That is the seventh-most consecutive trips to the annual postseason event, while tied for the ninth-most appearances ever. Last year, UMass hosted the regional for the second-straight year, falling to No. 1 Oklahoma 6-3 in the regional final game.
UMass is now 28-35 (.444) all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Minutewomen have advanced to the Women's College World Series three times, most recently in 1998. This is the 11th time that UMass has hosted a regional and it is 19-14 (.575) in those games.
Tickets for the Amherst Regional will go on sale through the UMass Athletic Ticket Office Monday morning at 9 a.m. EST. All-session general admission tickets are available for $27 for adults and $13 for UMass students and children 18 and under while all-session chair back seats are available for $30. Singe day tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for UMass students and children 18 and under while single day chair back seats are available for $12.
Tickets are available at the ticket booths outside the UMass Softball Complex on game-day or by calling 1-866-UMASS-TIX. Tickets can also be purchased at the Mullins Center Box Office Monday-Thursday from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Minutewomen are coming off their 20th Atlantic 10 Championship over the weekend and are riding the nation's second longest winning streak at 29 games. UMass has also won 13 games in a row at home, with their last loss coming against Oklahoma in last years NCAA Regional. The last time UMass played Princeton in the NCAA Softball Tournament was back in 1996 when UMass fell to the Tigers, 4-0 at Amherst. Princeton leads the all-time series against UMass 10-5. Two years ago, UMass defeated Lehigh 6-4 (10) and 3-0 to advance to the Super Regionals at Northwestern where the Minutewomen were eliminated. Stanford leads the all-time series 3-1. The lone win against Stanford came back in 2002 when UMass defeated No. 2 Stanford, 3-1 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia.
A tournament central button will be launched on www.umassathletics.com Monday morning and will be updated all week with information about the NCAA Softball Amherst Regional. Media information including radio broadcasts and potential live video will be released as soon as information becomes available.
The Division I championship provides for a field of 64 teams. The championship will be three weekends of competition. Four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in a double-elimination tournament. Sixteen teams were seeded and placed at one of the regional sites.
The regional winners will advance to super regional competition for a best-of-three series May 23-24 (Memorial Day Weekend) at eight campus sites. The remaining eight teams will advance to the WCWS, an eight-team, double-elimination tournament. The championship final will be a best-of-three-series. The WCWS will be conducted May 29 to June 4 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
2008 NCAA Softball Amherst Regional Schedule (all times are subject to change)
Friday, May 16
Game 1: #1 Stanford (46-12) vs. #4 Lehigh (38-15-1) 2:30 PM
Game 2: #2 Massachusetts (39-11) vs. #3 Princeton (25-22) 5:00 PM
Saturday, May 17
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Sunday, May 18
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5
Game 7: Same teams (if necessary)
