May 11, 2008
<>
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team was selected as one of 16 schools to host a regional for the 2008 NCAA softball tournament. No. 14 seed Long Beach State, Missouri and Creighton will join the Hawkeyes at Pearl Field in Iowa City.
“We are elated to be at home for the NCAA Tournament,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “I am thrilled for our team to be able to play in front of our home fans. We have great teams coming to Iowa City and it will be an outstanding tournament. We encourage all of our fans to come out and support the Hawkeyes and NCAA softball.”
Creighton will face Long Beach State Friday, May 16 at 5 p.m. to kick off the double-elimination tournament. Iowa will then face Missouri at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“We were all so excited to play at Pearl Field,” senior Summer Downs said. “It’s great to get a few more games in Iowa City. Our fans are the best in college softball, and we can’t wait to get the NCAA Tournament started.”
“The team was so anxious to see who we were playing that it took a few seconds for us to realize we were hosting,” senior Emily Nichols said. “Once we noticed that the television said `Iowa City Region,’ we all started yelling. All of us are thrilled not only to be in the NCAA Tournament, but to be hosting as well.”
This is the eighth time that Iowa has been selected to host an NCAA Regional. The Hawkeyes finished the season with a 40-18 overall record and advanced to the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament.
NCAA Regional Schedule
Friday, May 16
Game One: Creighton vs. Long Beach State, 5 p.m.
Game Two: Iowa vs. Missouri, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Game Three: Winner Game One vs. Winner Game Two, 12 p.m.
Game Four: Loser Game One vs. Loser Game Two, 2:30 p.m.
Game Five: Loser Game Three vs. Winner Game Four, 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 18
Game Six: Winner Game Three vs. Winner Game Five, 1 p.m.
Game Seven (if necessary): Winner Game Six vs. Loser Game Six, 3:30 p.m.