The Nebraska softball team received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, when the NCAA Selection Committee revealed the 64-team bracket live on ESPNU. The Huskers were placed in the NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional, hosted by No. 15 national seed Missouri, an at-large selection from the Southeastern Conference.
The Huskers (33-19) will open regional play on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2 against Louisville (35-15), which earned an at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference. In Friday’s second game, the host Tigers (39-14) will take on BYU (35-19), which earned the West Coast Conference’s automatic bid. The double-elimination regional continues on Friday, with the championship game and if-necessary championship game set for Saturday.
Both of Thursday’s games will air on ESPN2 and television coverage for the remainder of the regional is to-be-announced. Every Nebraska game this weekend will feature a free radio broadcast on Huskers.com, courtesy of the IMG College Husker Sports Network.
Nebraska is making its 24th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, a total that ranks 10th in NCAA history. The Huskers have qualified for the postseason in 20 times in the last 22 seasons, as Rhonda Revelle becomes just the fifth active Division I coach to coach in 20 NCAA Tournaments.
The Huskers were one of six Big Ten teams selected to play in the NCAA Tournament, the highest total for the conference since 2009. Nebraska faced a total of 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament field, posting a 12-10 record against that group, including a three wins vs. top-eight seeds.
“We’re excited to be a part of the NCAA Tournament and are honored to represent the Big Ten Conference,” Revelle said. “I’m very proud that we are making our 20th appearance in the last 22 years, and this group deserved to have its season continue.”
Nebraska and Louisville, the Huskers’ first-round opponent, have already met twice this season as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge in February. Nebraska won both games, with senior Kiki Stokes delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning in the first meeting, a 4-3 Husker win. In game two the next day, senior Emily Lockman tossing a shutout in a 3-0 victory.
The Huskers have familiarity with the Missouri regional, as Nebraska won four games in less than 24 hours to win the 2014 NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional. NU defeated Missouri in back-to-game games to claim the program’s most recent NCAA Regional title.
“It was a challenge to win the regional title the last time we were sent to Missouri, and we expect this tournament to be just as competitive,” Revelle said. “We have already played two very close games against Louisville this season, and we are looking forward to playing them on Thursday. Missouri is obviously a good team that is deserving of their national seed, and BYU is perennially one of the top non-Power Five programs in the country.
“It should be an exciting weekend of softball and our team looks forward to the challenge.”
NCAA Columbia (Mo.) Regional Schedule
Thursday, May 19
Game 1: Nebraska (33-19) vs. Louisville (35-15), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 2: BYU (35-19) at Missouri (39-14), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Friday, May 20
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 1 p.m. (TBA)
Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 3:30 p.m. (TBA)
Game 5: Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3, 6 p.m. (TBA)
Saturday, May 21
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 1:30 p.m. (TBA)
Game 7: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6, 4 p.m. (TBA)*
*if necessary