Minutewomen host NCAA softball regional

The Minutewomen are hosting the NCAA softball regional May 16-18 and are scheduled to play Princeton in the opening round of the double-elimination competition.

Coach Elaine Sortino’s squad is the No. 2 seed in the regional, while Princeton (25-22) is seeded third. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, May 16. The Minutewomen are coming off their 20th Atlantic 10 championship and are riding the nation’s second longest winning streak at 29 games. UMass has also won 13 games in a row at home.

Stanford (46-12) is the top seed in the region and will play fourth-seeded Lehigh (38-15-1) Friday at 2:30 p.m. The Cardinal are the No. 12 national seed. The winner of the Amherst Regional will match up with the winner of the College Station, Texas, 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 are on sale through the UMass Athletic Ticket Office. 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. Single 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 Softball Complex on game day or by calling 1-866-UMASS-TIX. Tickets can also be purchased at the Mullins Center Box Office Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

May 13, 2008.

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