Texas softball team will host A&M, Texas State in regional round of NCAA Tournament

Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
1
Texas' Viviana Martinez celebrates after hitting a home run in Oklahoma's 6-1 win in the Big 12 softball tournament championship game Saturday. Martinez and the Longhorns will enter this week's NCAA Tournament as the 13th overall seed.
Texas' Viviana Martinez celebrates after hitting a home run in Oklahoma's 6-1 win in the Big 12 softball tournament championship game Saturday. Martinez and the Longhorns will enter this week's NCAA Tournament as the 13th overall seed.

A day after falling to No. 1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, the Texas softball team found out its NCAA fate Sunday night.

As expected, the No. 7 Longhorns (42-13-1) will host a regional this weekend. However, Texas did not receive one of the top eight seeds from the NCAA selection committee, which means the Longhorns will have to hit the road for any appearance in the super regional round.

"We are happy to be able to host, that’s for sure," Texas coach Mike White said. "Hosting the first round was always a job we wanted to accomplish.”

More: Texas falls to Oklahoma in Big 12 softball championship game; Sooners win 43rd straight

Seeded No. 13, Texas will host Seton Hall, Texas State and Texas A&M at McCombs Field. One team will advance to next week's super regional in the double-elimination format and face either Indiana, Louisville, Northern Kentucky or No. 4 seed Tennessee in a best-of-three format.

“We are really happy that we are hosting (a regional), but we are still going to come out here and play our game," UT pitcher Estelle Czech said. "We have the tools that we need, so we are going to go out there and use them.”

More: Texas softball team hammers Kansas, earns spot in Big 12 title game against Oklahoma

Sunday's NCAA selection marks the 18th straight NCAA appearance and the 23rd overall for Texas in the tournament. The 64-team field will be trimmed to eight by the start of the Women's College World Series on June 1 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Defending national champion and top-ranked Oklahoma enters the tournament as the top seed and unquestioned favorite, and Oklahoma State earned a No. 6 overall seed despite finishing behind Texas in the Big 12.

Austin Regional

Friday-Sunday, McCombs Field, LHN, 105.3

Friday — (1) Texas vs. Seton Hall, 4 p.m.; (2) Texas A&M vs. Texas State, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday — (3) Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2 p.m.; (4) Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4:30 p.m.; (5) Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 7 p.m.

Sunday — (6) Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.; Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, if needed, 3:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas No. 13 overall seed in NCAA softball tourney, will host round one

Recommended Stories