The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball to face Bethune-Cookman in NCAA Super Regional
05.22.2005 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Fresh off its 2-0 NCAA Regional victory over Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon, the fifth-ranked and fourth-seeded Texas softball team will host Bethune-Cookman in one of the first-ever NCAA Super Regionals to be contested this weekend, Friday-Saturday, May 27-28. The best-of-three game weekend series will be played at UT's McCombs Field and will be televised live on ESPNU.Friday's game is at 5:30 p.m. (Central) and Saturday's game is at 2 p.m. (Central). If a third game is needed, it is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (Central).
Texas and Bethune-Cookman have met twice before with UT taking both meetings, which came at the 2002 and 2003 Fastpitch Express College Classics in San Antonio, Texas. UT won 5-3 in 2002 and 2-1 in 2003. Amy Bradford (Lufkin, Texas) earned the win as a freshman in 2002, and Lizi Sowers (Georgetown, Texas) took the victory in the circle in 2003.
Texas (45-11) earned its ticket to the Super Regional by winning the Austin Regional, which the team hosted at McCombs Field, May 20-22. The top-seeded Horns defeated Massachusetts, 1-0, in the opening round, combining Megan Willis' (Chandler, Ariz.) RBI single and Cat Osterman's (Houston, Texas) no-hitter to top the Minutewomen. In the second round, Osterman threw a perfect game against Mississippi State as Willis went 3-for-3 and Amber Hall (Deer Park, Texas) added an RBI in the 2-0 win. In the championship game on Sunday, UT claimed a replica 2-0 win over the Bulldogs behind Osterman's one-hitter and Jacqueline Williams' (Arlington, Texas) fourth-inning, two-RBI double.
Texas earned the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with its victory at the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, May 11-14. UT went 4-0 at the event to take its third conference tournament title in the last four years and the team's fourth championship overall.
Bethune-Cookman (49-17) advanced out of the Gainesville Regional, going 3-0 to earn its first-ever NCAA victories. In the opening round, the Wildcats defeated host and No. 13-seed Florida, 3-2, to advance in the winner's bracket. On Saturday, B-CC defeated South Florida, 8-4, before coming back to top the Bulls again, 5-2, in the championship tilt. Bethune-Cookman was the fourth seed at the Gainesville Regional and is one of only two non-seeded teams, joining DePaul, to advance to the Super Regionals.
B-CC earned one of the at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament after a runner-up finish at the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) Tournament. Bethune-Cookman was the five-time defending champion of the postseason tournament before falling in the championship game to Florida A&M. B-CC has made five NCAA appearances in the last six years.
This season marks the first year the NCAA has shifted its format for the softball championships. For the first time this year, the winners of each of the 16 four-team Regionals advanced to one of eight two-team Super Regionals. Those eight victors will move on to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, June 2-8. Before this season, winners of eight eight-team Regionals moved on to the WCWS.
All-session tickets ($20) for next weekend's NCAA Super Regional are on sale now at all Texas Box Office locations. Single-session tickets ($8-12) will go on sale on Wednesday morning, May 25, at 9 a.m. at the same locations.
GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, May 27
Game 1 - (4) Texas vs. Bethune-Cookman, 5:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU
Saturday, May 28
Game 2 - Bethune-Cookman vs. (4) Texas, 2 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU
Game 3 - If Necessary, 4:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU
