May 8, 2006

Chicago Earns At-Large Bid to NCAA III Softball Championship

CHICAGO -- The University of Chicago softball team has been selected to participate in the 2006 NCAA Division III Championship tournament, the NCAA announced Monday morning. The Maroons will participate in an eight-team regional at Augustana (Ill.) College beginning Thursday, May 11.

Chicago (19-13) will face Coe College (34-10) in opening-round play Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

The winner of the double-elimination regional will advance along with seven other regional winners to the NCAA Division III Championship to be held May 19-23 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Chicago makes its fourth NCAA postseason appearance overall and the third in seven years under Head Coach Ruth Kmak. Kmak also guided the Maroons to national postseason play in 2001 and 2003.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (34-4) is the regional's top seed, followed by host Augustana (33-8). Other teams competing in the regional include fourth-seeded Aurora University (36-9), fifth-seeded Central College (32-11), seventh-seeded Hope College (30-12), and eighth-seeded Lake Forest College (24-13).

NCAAsports.com
Regional Host (Augustana College)