Nebraska to Host NCAA Regional

Lincoln -- The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee announced Monday at the University of Nebraska has been selected as one of 16 regional hosts for the 2001 NCAA Baseball Championship beginning next weekend.

The regional, scheduled for May 25-27 at Buck Beltzer Stadium in Lincoln, is a double-elimination format with the winner advancing to Super Regionals, June 1-3, at campus sites. This season will mark the first time that Nebraska will play host to an NCAA baseball regional (regional schedule is on the bottom of this release) and the first time NU has bid on a regional.

The Huskers, 41-14 on the season, were the only Big 12 team selected to host a regional and one of four first-time hosts in 2001, joining East Carolina, Georgia and Tulane. Ten different conferences (along with Miami (Fla.) which is an independent) were represented among the regional hosts, with the Southeastern Conference capturing four of the 16 spots.

By virtue of being awarded a regional, Nebraska, along with the other 15 regional hosts have been selected as at-large teams to the 64-team field, but some could win automatic berths this week in their respective conference tournaments. It marks the third consecutive season and fifth time overall that the Huskers have qualified for the NCAA tournament.

"It's a good feeling knowing that after the Big 12 Tournament that we will be playing at home for regionals," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "It has been one of our goals and something we have been working for all season. Hosting a regional is something that our program and our fans are excited about."

"We are honored to be selected as one of 16 regional sites," University of Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Byrne said. " It is a tribute to the outstanding performance of Coach Van Horn and the team this season as well as the ability of our staff to host major events. Nebraska has had a long and outstanding history of hosting NCAA events and we will do everything we can to make the regional enjoyable for our fans, the participating teams and for the others who will be visiting Lincoln next weekend."

All-session passes are $48 and can be purchased by calling the University of Nebraska ticket office at (800) 8-Big Red or can be purchased on-line at Huskers.com. Only all-session tickets will be on sale prior to the start of the tournament. Single game tickets can only be purchased on the day of the game, if available, 90 minutes before first pitch when the gates open. All seats are general admission.

The 15 regional sites, with host institutions and records through May 13, are as follows: Fullerton, California [California State University, Fullerton, 39-14]; Clemson, South Carolina [Clemson University, 37-18]; Wilson, North Carolina [East Carolina University, 44-11]; Tallahassee, Florida [Florida State University, 40-15]; Athens, Georgia [University of Georgia, 40-16]; Baton Rouge, Louisiana [Louisiana State University, 37-18-1]; Coral Gables, Florida [University of Miami (Florida), 41-12]; South Bend, Indiana [University of Notre Dame, 45-9-1]; Columbus, Ohio [Ohio State University, 41-14]; Houston, Texas [Rice University, 40-17]; Columbia, South Carolina [University of South Carolina, Columbia, 41-15]; Los Angeles, California [University of Southern California, 35-16]; Palo Alto, California [Stanford University, 39-14]; Knoxville, Tennessee [University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 41-15]; and New Orleans, Louisiana [Tulane University, 45-9]. All regionals are campus sites except East Carolina [Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina].

The remaining at-large teams, top-eight national seeds and first-round regional pairings will be announced on Monday, May 21, at 2 p.m. Central time, during a live, half-hour program on ESPN. The committee will seed the entire 64-team bracket through both the super regionals and the first round of the College World Series. The committee will not reseed the field after play begins. Selection of the eight super regional hosts will be determined and will be announced on Memorial Day, May 28, at 2 p.m. Central time.

Friday, May, 25

Game 1 -	Noon
Game 2 -	7 p.m.

Saturday, May 26

Game 3 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2	11a.m.
Game 4 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2	3 p.m.
Game 5 - Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4	7 p.m.

Sunday, May 27

Game 6 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5	1 p.m.
Game 7 - if necessary, same teams as in Game 6 50 minutes following game one