The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball heads to Houston for NCAA Regional
05.11.2008 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas softball team has earned the third seed in the 2008 NCAA Regional in Houston, Texas. The Longhorns will be making their fourth straight and ninth overall NCAA appearance when they travel to the University of Houston for the three-day event.
Texas (28-21-2), received an at-large berth to the 64-team 2008 NCAA tourney and will compete in a four-team, double elimination NCAA Regional from Friday-Sunday, May 16-18. Head coach Connie Clark's squad will open regional action on Friday at 5 p.m. Central against 24th-ranked Washington. The Huskies (28-23-1) finished sixth in the Pacific-10 Conference and they are one of the conference's seven NCAA selections.
The other two teams at the Houston Regional are host, No. 9/11 Houston (50-9), the Conference USA regular season champion and Delaware State (29-23), the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament champions. The Cougars are an at-large pick, receiving the No. 8 national seed after finishing second at the Conference USA Tournament. Delaware State, earned the MEAC automatic berth and is making its first ever NCAA appearance. Delaware State will take on Houston at 7:30 p.m. Central on Friday in first-round action.
The game times for Saturday and Sunday in Houston will be announced by the NCAA at a later time.
Florida (62-2) was named the No. 1 seed in the bracket, while UCLA (45-7) earned the No. 2 seed, followed by third-seeded Alabama (51-6), fourth-seeded Michigan (48-6) and fifth-seeded Texas A&M (49-7).
Texas has advanced to the NCAA Championship in 1998 -- only its second year of varsity competition -- and in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and now in 2008. The Horns have made three appearances at the eight-team Women's College World Series (1998, 2003, 2005 and 2006), finishing third nationally in 2003 and 2005.
Thirty conferences were awarded automatic qualification for the 2008 NCAA's, and the remaining 34 slots were filled with at-large selections to complete the bracket. The top 16 teams were seeded nationally.
The regional winners will advance to super regional competition for a best-of-three series May 23-25 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.
The SEC led all conferences with eight teams in the championship, while the Pacific-10 placed seven. Six conferences, including the Big 12 tied for third with four bids to the tournament. Fresno State remains the only team to be selected to all 27 championships. Four teams are making their initial appearances in the tournament: Delaware State, Purdue, Stephen F. Austin and Stony Brook.
NCAA Softball Houston Regional schedule
(All times Central)
Friday, May 16
Game 1: Washington vs. Texas, 5 p.m
Game 2: Houston vs. Delaware State, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, noon
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 18
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, noon
Game 7 (if necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 4 p.m.
NCAA Softball Houston Regional ticket information
Regional all-session tickets are on sale now. Fans can or contact the University of Houston ticket office at 713-GO-COOGS.
All-session passes are priced at $25 for adults and $15 for youths (ages 3 to high school). Single-session ticket pricing will be announced once the full regional schedule is released.
Single-session tickets will be available starting one hour prior to Friday's first game at the Cougar Softball Complex ticket windows. Only cash is accepted at the Cougar Softball Stadium ticket windows. All seating at Cougar Softball Stadium is general admission.
NCAA SELECTION QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
General thoughts on the regional: I am excited. Houston is a place that we have played already this year and having played in their facility is something that is good for this team. Playing close to home is tremendous for our fan base and hopefully we can fill the stands with Texas orange. I think it was the tale of two games when we played Houston earlier this year, with us not playing well in the first game, but we responded well and played a tight game in game two of our non-conference doubleheader. I think it is great place for us to be sent and we hope to have good fan support down in Houston.
On Texas' first round matchup with Washington: Washington is great ball club that is coming out of the Pac-10 and they are used to playing good competition. I like the idea of matching up with a team that we have seen a lot in the last couple of years in regular and postseason play. I think we have a good approach when we play a Pac-10 opponent and I think we will be focused and ready for the challenge that is ahead. I believe that of all the regions, that this is the best scenario we could have had other than hosting our own regional.
