The Florida Gators, who reached last season’s best-of-three championship series against eventual NCAA champion Washington, earned the No. 4 seed and will play host to a four-team, double-elimination regional beginning Friday at the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Joining the Gators (43-8) of the Southeastern Conference are three state rivals – UCF (35-21) of Conference USA, FIU (36-19) of the Sun Belt Conference and Bethune-Cookman (32-22) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The first games on Friday will pit UCF against FIU and Florida against Bethune-Cookman. Starting times will be available Monday.
Both UCF and FIU received at-large berths as did Florida. Bethune-Cookman earned its berth by winning the MEAC. Florida played both UCF and FIU this season but did not play Bethune-Cookman. Florida visited Orlando on March 31 to meet UCF and escaped with a 4-3 victory in extra innings (9) after trailing 3-1 after six innings. On April 20 at Pressly Stadium, the Gators dropped an 8-3 decision to FIU. Florida and Bethune-Cookman did not play this season.
The Gators, of course, will attempt to put their 9-1 semifinal loss to Louisiana State in the SEC Tournament last Friday at Fayetteville, Ark., behind them.
This marks the 11th year the Gators will host a regional, and should the Gators win it, as the No. 4 seed they would host a Super Regional. The Gainesville Regional winner is set to play the Amherst (Mass.) Regional winner that is being hosted by Massachusetts and includes No. 13 seed Arizona. The eight Super Regionals are all best-of-three series and will be played May 28-29.
Seven SEC teams, led by No. 1 seed Alabama, earned berths in the 64-team field. The Crimson Tide and Gators host regionals as will No. 6 Georgia, No. 12 Louisiana State and No. 15 Tennessee. Auburn is playing in the Atlanta Regional hosted by No. 8 Georgia Tech, while Kentucky is playing in the Columbus (Ohio) Regional hosted by Ohio State and including No. 11 California.
The Pacific-10 Conference and Big 12 Conference also had seven teams receive berths. Defending champion Washington is the No. 3 seed and will host its own regional as will No. 5 UCLA, No. 10 Arizona and unseeded Stanford (which hosts No. 16 seed Hawaii of the Western Athletic Conference). No. 11 California (Ohio State), No. 13 Arizona State (Amherst) and unseeded Oregon (Atlanta) are on the road.
The Big 12 seeded teams playing regional hosts are No. 7 Texas and No. 9 Missouri. No. 14 Oklahoma will play in the College Park (Md.) Regional, while the unseeded teams are Oklahoma State (Tucson), Nebraska (Seattle), Texas A&M (Baton Rouge) and Texas Tech (Stanford).
NCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Seeds: 1. Alabama (SEC) 48-9; 2. Michigan (Big Ten) 46-6; 3. Washington (Pac-10) 45-6; 4. Florida (SEC) 43-8; 5. UCLA (Pac-10) 40-11; 6. Georgia (SEC) 43-11; 7. Texas (Big 12) 42-13; 8. Georgia Tech (ACC) 49-9; 9. Missouri (Big 12) 46-11; 10. Arizona (Pac-10) 43-11; 11. California (Pac-10) 41-17; 12. Louisiana State (SEC) 44-14; 13. Arizona State (Pac-10) 41-15; 14. Oklahoma (Big 12) 43-10; 15. Tennessee (SEC) 42-13; 16. Hawaii (WAC) 44-13.
REGIONALS / Double-elimination tournaments at campus sites
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. / University of Alabama / Alabama Softball Complex
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: UAB (36-20) vs. Lipscomb (48-11), 4:30 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Alabama (48-9) vs. Alcorn State (23-23), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
STANFORD, Calif. / Stanford University / Smith Family Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: UC Davis (26-27) vs. (16) Hawaii (44-13), 6 p.m.
Game 2: Texas Tech (36-16) vs. Stanford (36-17), 9 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 6:30 p.m. (if necessary)
COLUMBIA, Mo. / University of Missouri / University Field
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Illinois (43-6) vs. DePaul (38-16), 5 p.m.
Game 2: Creighton (37-21) vs. (9) Missouri (46-11), 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 4 p.m. (if necessary)
ATLANTA, Ga./ Georgia Institute of Technology / Mewborn Field
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Auburn (30-24) vs. Oregon (33-19), 5:30 p.m.
Game 2: Jacksonville State (30-17) vs. (8) Georgia Tech (49-9), 8 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
LOS ANGELES / University of California, Los Angeles / Easton Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Fresno State (39-19) vs. San Diego State (33-14), 4 p.m.
Game 2: Saint Mary’s (30-21) vs. (5) UCLA (40-11), 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 5:30 p.m. (if necessary)
BATON ROUGE, La. / Louisiana State University / Tiger Park
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Texas A&M (42-14) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (42-16), 4:30 p.m.
Game 2: McNeese State (38-25) vs. (12) Louisiana State (44-14), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
AMHERST, Mass. / University of Massachusetts / UMass Softball Complex
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Boston University (34-20) vs. (13) Arizona State (41-15), 5 p.m.
Game 2: Long Island (37-16) vs. Massachusetts (42-8-1), 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. / University of Florida / Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: UCF (35-21) vs. FIU (36-19), 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: Bethune-Cookman (32-22) vs. (4) Florida (43-8), 6 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
SEATTLE, Wash. / University of Washington / Husky Softball Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Nebraska (29-27) vs. North Carolina (40-18), 5:30 p.m.
Game 2: North Dakota (33-23) vs. (3) Washington (45-6), 8 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 8:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 11 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 8 p.m. (if necessary)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. / University of Maryland / Robert E. Taylor Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Syracuse (32-24) vs. (14) Oklahoma (43-10), 5 p.m.
Game 2: Fordham (47-10) vs. Maryland (33-22), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2 p.m. (if necessary)
COLUMBUS, Ohio / Ohio State University / Buckeye Field
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Bucknell (28-18-1) vs. (11) California (41-17), 5 p.m.
Game 2: Kentucky (31-25) vs. Ohio State (37-12), 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
ATHENS, Ga. / University of Georgia / UGA Softball Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Radford (36-15) vs. Florida State (43-16), 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: Elon (38-19) vs. (6) Georgia (43-11), 5 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2:30 p.m. (if necessary)
AUSTIN, Texas / University of Texas / McCombs Field
THURSDAY / May 20
Game 1: East Carolina (42-16) vs. Brigham Young (43-11), 6 p.m.
Game 2: Iona (28-24) vs. (7) Texas (42-13), 8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game loser, 6 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
TUCSON, Ariz. / University of Arizona / Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Hofstra (43-10) vs. Oklahoma State (43-14), 7 p.m.
Game 2: Cornell (37-13) vs. (10) Arizona (43-11), 9 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. / University of Tennessee / Sherri Parker Lee Stadium
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Virginia (33-21) vs. Louisville (39-17), 4 p.m.
Game 2: Ball State (43-14) vs. (15) Tennessee (42-13), 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. / University of Michigan / Alumni Field at Wilpon Softball Complex
FRIDAY / May 21
Game 1: Notre Dame (45-10) vs. Illinois State (32-18), 4:30 p.m.
Game 2: Wright State (30-28-1) vs. (2) Michigan (46-6), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY / May 22
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
SUNDAY / May 23
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
SUPER REGIONALS / Best-of-three series at campus site of higher seed / May 28-30
Stanford, Calif. Regional winner vs. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Regional winner
Columbia, Mo. Regional winner vs. Atlanta, Ga. Regional winner
Baton Rouge, La. Regional winner vs. Los Angeles, Calif. Regional winner
Amherst, Mass. Regional winner vs. Gainesville, Fla. Regional winner
College Park, Md. Regional winner vs. Seattle, Wash. Regional winner
Columbus, Ohio Regional winner vs. Athens, Ga. Regional winner
Tucson, Ariz. Regional winner vs. Austin, Texas Regional winner
Knoxville, Tenn. Regional winner vs. Ann Arbor, Mich. Regional winner
WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES / Oklahoma City, Okla. / ASA Hall of Fame Stadium / Two-bracket, double-elimination / June 3-6
THURSDAY / June 3
Game 1: 1 p.m.
Game 2: 3 p.m.
Game 3: 6 p.m.
Game 4: 8 p.m.
FRIDAY / June 4
Game 5: 7 p.m.
Game 6: 9 p.m.
SATURDAY / June 5
Game 7: 12 p.m.
Game 8: 2 p.m.
Game 9: 7 p.m.
Game 10: 9 p.m.
SUNDAY / June 6
Game 11: 1 p.m.
Game 12: 3 p.m.
Game 13: 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 14: 9 p.m. (if necessary)
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES / Best-of-three / June 7-9
MONDAY / June 7
Game 1: 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
TUESDAY / June 8
Game 2: 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
WEDNESDAY / June 9
Game 3: 8 p.m. (if necessary) (ESPN2)