Southland Conference Softball Tournament Field Set
FRISCO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin earned the top seed for the 2010 Southland Conference Softball Tournament that will get underway on Thursday at Bobcat Field in San Marcos, Texas.
The Ladyjacks won two-of-three against Texas State in the final series of the season giving Stephen F. Austin a share of its first regular season title and first No. 1 seed in the Southland tournament. The Bobcats claim their league-leading fifth conference title and third consecutive joining Northwestern State (1998-2000) and UTSA (2004-06) as the only teams to win three in a row.
Winning three of its last four conference games, Stephen F. Austin recorded its best season against league members going 20-10 in conference play and 28-18 overall. Playing in their third consecutive tournament, the Ladyjacks return to the site where they won their first Southland tournament championship in San Marcos, Texas in 2008. Stephen F. Austin will play the winner of game one between the No. 4 seed McNeese State and No. 5 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Texas State enters its league-leading 12th consecutive Southland tournament. The No. 2 seed and tournament host Bobcats will play the winner of game two between the No. 3 seed UT Arlington and No. 6 seed Nicholls at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Texas State posted a 25-24 overall record and were 20-10 in conference play. Its third consecutive season with at least 20 wins against conference opponents.
The tournament opens on Thursday at 11 a.m. with game one as the No. 4 seed McNeese State takes on the No. 5 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. McNeese enters its 10th consecutive Southland tournament with a 34-25 overall record and a 17-13 mark in conference play. The Islanders make their initial tournament appearance after recording their best season as a Southland member with a league-best 35-20 overall record and their most wins against conference members with a 16-14 mark. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won the regular season series 2-1.
In game two the No. 3 seed UT Arlington will face the No. 6 seed Nicholls at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The Mavs make their league-leading 20th overall and eighth consecutive tournament appearance after going 26-23 overall and 16-12 in conference play. Nicholls posted a 25-20 overall record and a 16-14 mark in conference play. After a one-year absence from the conference tournament, the Colonels make their eighth appearance in the postseason event. Nicholls swept UTA in the regular season series.
The 2010 Southland Conference Softball Tournament plays a six-team double elimination format with a possibility of 11 games. The 11th game would be played in the event an undefeated team lost in the title game forcing a second game, upholding the double elimination format.
The winner of the 2010 tournament receives an automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show airs Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
The 2010 Southland Softball Tournament will be available by web streaming for the entire tournament. Live stats will also be available on southland.org and for the first time the championship game will air on the Southland Conference Television Network. Game broadcast will be called by Doug Anderson and LaDarrin McLane.
Adult reserved all-tournament tickets are available for $35, while a youth reserved ticket is $25. A general admission all-tournament ticket is available for $25. Tickets will also be available for each day of the tournament. An adult reserved day ticket is $15 while a youth day ticket is $10. General admission individual day tickets will also be available for $10. Tickets for the event are available at the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office, online at www.txstatebobcats.com or by calling 512-245-2272 or at any Texas Box Office outlet.