2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament

Last updated

2018 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site
Champions Florida State  (1st title)
Runner-up Washington (13 WCWS Appearance)
Winning coach Lonni Alameda  (1st title)
MOP Jessie Warren (Florida State)
Television ESPN
ESPN2
ESPN3

The 2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 18 through June 6, 2018 as the final part of the 2018 NCAA Division I softball season. Thirty-two teams were awarded automatic bids as champions of their conferences, and the remaining 32 were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2018 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. This was the first year since the 2010 Women's College World Series that neither the Florida Gators nor the Oklahoma Sooners made the Championship Series. The Florida State Seminoles played in their first Women's College World Series Championship Series and became the first ACC team to make the Championship Series. The Washington Huskies made their fourth appearance in the Championship Series.

Contents

Automatic bids

The Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences have the automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.

ConferenceSchoolBest finishReference
America East Albany Regionals
(2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017)
American Tulsa Regionals
(2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
ACC Florida State WCWS
(1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2016)
A-10 Fordham Regionals
(2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
ASUN Kennesaw State 1st Appearance
Big 12 Oklahoma 1st
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017)
Big East DePaul WCWS
(1999, 2000, 2005, 2007)
Big Sky Sacramento State Regionals
(1993, 1995, 2008)
Big South Liberty Regionals
(2002, 2011)
Big Ten Minnesota WCWS
(1976, 1978)
Big West Cal State Fullerton 1st
(1986)
Colonial Hofstra Super Regionals
(2012)
Conference USA Middle Tennessee Regionals
(2000)
Horizon League UIC WCWS
(1994)
Ivy League Harvard Regionals
(2007, 2011, 2012)
MAC Ohio Regionals
(2014)
MAAC Monmouth 1st Appearance
MEAC Bethune–Cookman Super Regionals
(2005)
MVC Drake Regionals
(2008)
Mountain West Boise State 1st Appearance
Northeastern Saint Francis (PA) Regionals
(2017)
OVC Jacksonville State Super Regionals
(2009)
Pac-12 Oregon 3rd
(2014, 2017)
Patriot League Boston University Regionals
(1996, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
SEC Florida 1st
(2014, 2015)
SoCon UNCG Regionals
(1997)
Southland McNeese State Regionals
(1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017)
SWAC Prairie View A&M 1st Appearance
Summit League North Dakota State Super Regionals
(2009)
Sun Belt Texas State Regionals
(1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017)
WAC New Mexico State Regionals
(2011, 2015, 2017)
WCC BYU Super Regionals
(2010)

National seeds

16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show Sunday, May 13 at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. [1] The 16 national seeds host the Regionals. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advance to Women's College World Series.

Regionals and Super Regionals

The Regionals took place May 17–20, 2018. One regional- Eugene, Oregon, took place May 17–19, 2018, because of BYU's no-Sunday-play policy; all other regionals occurred May 18–20, 2018. The Super Regionals took place from May 24–27, 2018.

Eugene Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
1 Oregon 4
Albany 0
1 Oregon5
Drake 0
BYU 2
Drake 3
1 Oregon3
Eugene Regional
Drake 0
BYU16(5)
Albany 0
Drake3
BYU 0
1 Oregon6 611(5)
16 Kentucky 91 1
16 Kentucky 10(5)
UIC 1
16 Kentucky10
Notre Dame 0
Notre Dame 4
Michigan 1
16 Kentucky8(6)
Lexington Regional
Notre Dame 0
UIC 0
Michigan6
Notre Dame2
Michigan 1

Tempe Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
8 Arizona State 2
New Mexico State 0
8 Arizona State7
Ole Miss 1
Long Beach State 1
Ole Miss 9
8 Arizona State9
Tempe Regional
Ole Miss 0
New Mexico State 0
Long Beach State9
Ole Miss1
Long Beach State 0
8 Arizona State55
9 South Carolina 2 2
9 South Carolina 3
UNC Greensboro 0
9 South Carolina 1
Liberty3
Liberty 2(10)
Hofstra 0
Liberty 0 0
Columbia Regional
9 South Carolina25
UNC Greensboro 0
Hofstra6
9 South Carolina5
Hofstra 4

Seattle Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
5 Washington 8(5)
Boise State 0
5 Washington2
Texas 1
Texas 2
Minnesota 1
5 Washington5
Seattle Regional
Minnesota 2
Boise State 3
Minnesota11
Texas 0
Minnesota 3
5 Washington3(9)6
12 Alabama 2 0
12 Alabama 8(6)
Middle Tennessee 0
12 Alabama9
Wisconsin 1
Oregon State 3
Wisconsin 9(8)
12 Alabama6
Tuscaloosa Regional
Oregon State 0
Middle Tennessee 0
Oregon State4
Wisconsin 1
Oregon State5

Norman Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
4 Oklahoma 9(5)
Boston University 0
4 Oklahoma8
Tulsa 0
Tulsa 9(5)
Missouri 1
4 Oklahoma7
Norman Regional
Missouri 0
Boston University 8
Missouri10
Tulsa 5
Missouri6
4 Oklahoma79
13 Arkansas 2 0
13 Arkansas 2
DePaul 0
13 Arkansas5
Wichita State 0
Wichita State 8
Oklahoma State 2
13 Arkansas6
Fayetteville Regional
Wichita State 4
DePaul 0
Oklahoma State6
Wichita State5
Oklahoma State 4

Los Angeles Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
3 UCLA 3
Sacramento State 0
3 UCLA 2
Cal State Fullerton3(9)
Cal State Fullerton 2
Texas State 1
Cal State Fullerton 0 4
Los Angeles Regional
3 UCLA36
Sacramento State 4
Texas State8
3 UCLA14(5)
Texas State 1
3 UCLA73
14 Arizona 1 2
14 Arizona 1
Saint Francis (PA) 0
14 Arizona6
North Dakota State 0
Mississippi State 4
North Dakota State 5
14 Arizona4
Tucson Regional
Mississippi State 3
Saint Francis (PA) 5
Mississippi State11
North Dakota State 0
Mississippi State12

Tallahassee Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
6 Florida State 8(5)
Jacksonville State 0
6 Florida State2(8)
Auburn 1
Auburn 5
Kennesaw State 2
6 Florida State10
Tallahassee Regional
Jacksonville State 0
Jacksonville State5(10)
Kennesaw State 3
Auburn 2
Jacksonville State3
6 Florida State5 8(11)3
11 LSU 65 1
11 LSU 9(5)
Fordham 0
11 LSU1
Houston 0
Houston 1
Louisiana 0
11 LSU4 3
Baton Rouge Regional
Louisiana 51
Fordham 3
Louisiana15(5)
Houston 2
Louisiana7

Athens Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
7 Georgia 6
Harvard 2
7 Georgia12
Northwestern 0
Northwestern 3(8)
California 2
7 Georgia9
Athens Regional
Northwestern 7
Harvard 1
California10
Northwestern4
California 3
7 Georgia42(8)
10 Tennessee 3 1
10 Tennessee 9(5)
Monmouth 0
10 Tennessee12
James Madison 3
James Madison 2
Ohio 1
10 Tennessee5
Knoxville Regional
Ohio 1
Monmouth 0
Ohio4
James Madison 3
Ohio7

Gainesville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
2 Florida 8(6)
Bethune–Cookman 0
2 Florida 10(6)
Ohio State 2
South Florida 1
Ohio State 3
2 Florida4
Gainesville Regional
Ohio State 0
Bethune–Cookman 0
South Florida3
Ohio State3
South Florida 2
2 Florida54 5
15 Texas A&M 4 53
15 Texas A&M 9(5)
Prairie View A&M 0
15 Texas A&M10(6)
McNeese State 1
Baylor 10
McNeese State 11
15 Texas A&M10
College Station Regional
Baylor 4
Prairie View A&M 0
Baylor9(5)
McNeese State 0
Baylor6

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held May 31 through June 6, 2018, in Oklahoma City.

Participants

SchoolConferenceRecord (conference)Head coachWCWS appearances†
(including 2018 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†*WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2018 WCWS)
Arizona State Pac-12 48–11 (16–8) Trisha Ford 12
(last: 2013)
1st
(2008, 2011)
17–16
Florida SEC 55–9 (20–4) Tim Walton 9
(last: 2017)
1st
(2014, 2015)
25–14
Florida State ACC 52–11 (21–3) Lonni Alameda 10
(last: 2016)
3rd
(2002, 2016)
8–17
Georgia SEC 48–11 (16–8) Lu Harris-Champer 4
(last: 2016)
3rd
(2009, 2010)
5–6
Oklahoma Big 12 55–3 (18–0) Patty Gasso 12
(last: 2017)
1st
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017)
27-15
Oregon Pac-12 52–8 (21–3) Mike White 6
(last: 2017)
3rd
(2014, 2017)
6–10
UCLA Pac-12 55–5 (20–4) Kelly Inouye-Perez 28
(last: 2017)
1st
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995*, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010)
96–34
Washington Pac-12 49–8 (15–8) Heather Tarr 13
(last: 2017)
1st
(2009)
21–19

† = From NCAA Division I Softball Championship Results

Bracket

First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
1 Oregon 11
8 Arizona State 6
1 Oregon 2
5 Washington6
4 Oklahoma 0
5 Washington 2
5 Washington3
4 Oklahoma 0
8 Arizona State 0
4 Oklahoma2
2 Florida 0
4 Oklahoma2
5 Washington 0 3
6 Florida State18
3 UCLA 7
6 Florida State 4
3 UCLA6
2 Florida 5
2 Florida 11(5)
7 Georgia 3
3 UCLA 1 6
6 Florida State312
6 Florida State7
7 Georgia 2
1 Oregon 1
6 Florida State4

All-tournament Team

The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.

PositionPlayerSchool
P Rachel Garcia UCLA
Paige Parker Oklahoma
Gabbie Plain Washington
CTaylor PackUCLA
Anna ShelnuttFlorida State
2BSydney SherrillFlorida State
3B & MOP Jessie Warren Florida State
SS Sis Bates Washington
OF Bubba Nickles UCLA
Trysten MelhartWashington
U Jocelyn Alo Oklahoma
Meghan KingFlorida State
Elizabeth MasonFlorida State

Championship Game

[2]

SchoolTop BatterStats.
Florida State Seminoles Elizabeth Mason (DP)2-3 3RBIs HR K
Washington Huskies Noelle Hee (DP)1-2 RBI
SchoolPitcherIPHRERBBSOABBF
Florida State Seminoles Meghan King (W)7.0531042528
Washington Huskies Taran Alvelo (L)3.1776141618
Washington Huskies Gabbie Plain2.2211211011

Schedule

GameTime*Matchup#TelevisionAttendance
Thursday, May 31
111:00 a.m.No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Arizona State ESPN 8,561
21:30 p.m.No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Washington
36:00 p.m.No. 2 Florida vs. No. 7 Georgia ESPN2 8,472
48:30 p.m.No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Florida State
Friday, June 1
56:00 p.m.No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 5 Washington ESPN 9,311
68:30 p.m.No. 3 UCLA vs No. 2 Florida
Saturday, June 2
711:00 a.m.No. 8 Arizona State vs. No. 4 Oklahoma ESPN 8,728
81:30 p.m.No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 7 Georgia
96:00 p.m.No. 2 Florida vs. No. 4 Oklahoma8,728
108:30 p.m.No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 6 Florida State
Sunday, June 3
1112:00 p.m.No. 5 Washington vs. No. 4 Oklahoma ESPN 8,932
122:30 p.m.No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Florida State
13*6:00 p.m.*No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Florida State ESPN2 6,903
14*8:30 p.m.*Not Necessary
Monday, June 4
Finals, G16:00 p.m.No. 5 Washington vs. No. 6 Florida State ESPN 8,152
Tuesday, June 5
Finals, G27:00 p.m.No. 5 Washington vs. No. 6 Florida State ESPN 8,123
Wednesday, June 6*
Finals, G3*7:00 p.m. ESPN
*Game times in CDT. # – Rankings denote tournament seed.* = if necessary

Record by conference

Conference# of BidsRecordWin %RFSRWSNSFNC
ACC 211–4.714211111
Pac-12 733–13.71765421
Big 12 411–8.5792111
SEC 1343–28.6061292
Big Ten 58–10.4443
American 45–8.3851
Big West 23–4.4291
Sun Belt 24–4.5001
Big South 12–2.5001
MAC 12–2.5001
Missouri Valley 12–2.5001
Ohio Valley 12–2.5001
CAA 22–4.333
Other195–38.116

The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, F, and NC respectively stand for the Regional Finals, Super Regionals, College World Series Teams, National Semi-Finals, Finals, and National Champion.

Media coverage

Radio

Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of the championship series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com, through TuneIn, and on SiriusXM. John Sadak made his softball radio debut and joined returning analyst Leah Amico for Westwood One.

Television

ESPN holds exclusive rights to the tournament. They aired games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and ESPN3. For the second time in the history of the women's softball tournament ESPN covered every regional. [3]

Broadcast assignments

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References

  1. "It's Absolute #MAYhem on ESPN for College Softball's Biggest Month with More than 70 Conference Games, 11 Championships in Four Days". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  2. "National Champions!!!". Seminoles.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Field is Set! ESPN Covers Every Game from All 16 NCAA Division I Softball Regionals". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  4. 1 2 "ESPN to Televise Every Game of NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals for 12th Consecutive Season". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "All Roads Lead to OKC: ESPN Presents Every Inning of the Women's College World Series". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  6. "Women's College World Series Best of Three Championship Series Live on ESPN; For the First Time, Second-Screen Viewing Option Added on ESPN3". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 4, 2018.