NCAA Softball Tournament: Seattle Regional Preview
The Texas Longhorns received the program’s 17th consecutive bid to the NCAA Division I Softball Championship and will head to Seattle, Washington where the No. 13 seeded Washington Huskies will host a Regional,
This weekend, from May 20-22, Texas will join Weber State, Lehigh, and of course Washington, playing the Weber State Wildcats on Friday at 4:30 p.m. CT on the Longhorn Network.
Here is what you need to know ahead of the Seattle Regional.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Washington (35-15, 14-10 PAC-12) – The Huskies went 2-0 against Arkansas (No. 4 Seed), and have wins over Tennessee, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Arizona State along with series wins over Arizona (2-1), Oregon State (3-0), Oregon (3-0), Stanford (3-0). Washington is dangerous, but has been streaky at times.
Texas (38-17-1, 12-6 Big 12) – The Longhorns had a rollercoaster of a year, finding their stride around midseason and losing series to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State after that. Hailey Dolcini has emerged as a weapon in the circle over the last month or so of the season and will be that for the Longhorns in this Regional.
Weber State (38-10, 13-1 Big Sky) – Weber State secured and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after winning the Big Sky Conference Tournament without allowing a single run. This is the second time that Weber State will be in Seattle for an NCAA Regional, doing so before in 2016.
Lehigh (30-18-1, 15-3 Patriot League) – The Mountain Hawks enter the NCAA Tournament after winning the Patriot League tournament and the subsequent automatic bid tied to that victory. Lehigh is making their 11th NCAA Regional appearance, and their first since 2017.
REGIONAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MAY 20
Game 1 – Texas vs. Weber State – 4:30 p.m. CT (Longhorn Network)
Game 2 – Lehigh vs. Washington – 7:00 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
SATURDAY, MAY 21
Game 3 – Winner G1 vs. Winner G2 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Game 4 – Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 – 6:30 p.m. CT
Game 5 – Winner G4 vs. Loser G3 – 9:00 p.m. CT
SUNDAY, MAY 22
Game 6 – Winner G3 vs. Winner G5 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Game 7 – Winner G6 vs. Loser G6 (if necessary) – 7:30 p.m. CT
ONE THING TO WATCH
Washington is capable of making a run to the WCWS, and with two wins already this season over Arkansas, it is fortuitous that the Fayetteville Regional winner is paired with the Seattle winner for a Super Regional meeting. However, the Huskies had better mind Texas, as the Longhorns were visibly upset with their seeding and will come to Seattle with a chip on their shoulders. Texas is a talented team, and the duo of Mia Scott and Janae Jefferson has been hard for anyone to keep quiet all year. Expect a battle between UT and UW on Sunday, and a good one at that.
