Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Headed to Texas for NCAA Regional
5/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 11, 2003
NCAA Regional Bracket in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Fresh off its runner-up finish in the Big Ten Tournament last weekend, the Northwestern softball team will take its game to Austin, Texas for the NCAA Regionals. The Wildcats earned the No. 2 seed in the region behind host Texas, and will be making their sixth tournament appearance in school history. NU (35-17) will take on Tennessee Tech (41-14) in an opening round game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
"We are extemely excited about the opportunity to represent Northwestern and the Big Ten in the NCAA Tournament," Wildcat head coach Kate Drohan said. "We're playing very well right now and I think our experience last weekend at the Big Ten Tournament should help prepare us for the regional."
NU will be making its first regional appearance since 2000, when the current group of seniors were freshmen. Northwestern also made four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1984-87. The Wildcats are 12-11 all-time in tournament games, including a 2-2 record in 2000.
The 'Cats have never faced Tennessee Tech in school history. Of the other seven teams in the region, Northwestern has only faced two of them before. The 'Cats are 1-3 all-time against third-seeded Arizona State and 4-1 against No. 5 Hawaii.
Northwestern closed out the season with a 7-2 record. All nine games were played against ranked opponents. The Wildcats faced one of the toughest schedules in the country this season, posting a 13-8 mark against ranked foes.
Tennessee Tech defeated Eastern Kentucky 7-1 Saturday to earn the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic berth to the tournament. The Golden Eagles went through the conference tournament undefeated after winning the regular season championship with a 17-3 record.
Northwestern and Tennessee Tech share two common opponents this season. NU defeated North Carolina 8-0 in five innings, while the Golden Eagles dropped a 6-1 decision to the Tar Heels. The 'Cats also defeated Arkansas 8-0 in six innings, while TTU lost to the Razorbacks 7-1 and 2-1 in eight innings.
ESPN2 will televise two of the games from the regional in Austin. If the Wildcats win their opening game versus Tennessee Tech, their next game at 2 p.m. Friday will air on a tape-delay basis at 5:30 p.m. Central Time. Game No. 14, which could be the potential championship game, will also air live at 1 p.m. Central time Sunday.
2003 NCAA Division I Softball Regionals
at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
No. 1 seed Texas (43-7)
No. 2 seed Northwestern (35-17)
No. 3 seed Arizona State (30-23)
No. 4 seed LSU (49-16)
No. 5 seed Hawaii (37-18)
No. 6 seed Southwest Texas State (43-16-1)
No. 7 seed Tennessee Tech (41-14)
No. 8 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (31-22)
Thursday, May 15
Game #1 - LSU (49-16) vs. Hawaii (37-18), 9 a.m.
Game #2- Texas (43-7) vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (31-22), 11:30 a.m.
Game #3- Arizona State (30-23) vs. Southwest Texas (43-16-1), 3 p.m.
Game #4 - Northwestern (35-17) vs. Tennessee Tech (41-14), 5:30 p.m.
Game #5- Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Game #6- Loser of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4, 9 a.m.
Game #7 - Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2, 11:30 a.m.
Game #8- Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4, 2 p.m. (ESPN2 tape-delay; will air at 5:30 p.m. Friday)
Game #9 - Winner of Game #5 vs. Loser of Game #8, 6 p.m.
Game #10 - Winner of Game #6 vs. Loser of Game #7, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Game #11 - Winner of Game #9 vs. Winner of Game #10, 1 p.m.
Game #12 - Winner of Game #7 vs. Winner of Game #8, 3:30 p.m.
Game #13- Winner of Game #11 vs. Loser of Game #12, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 18: Championship
Game #14 -- Winner of Game #12 vs. Winner of Game #13, 1 p.m. (Live on ESPN2)
Game #15 -- If needed, 3:30 p.m. (no TV)
