SB: Mavs selected to NISC, headed to Beaumont Regional
5/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
NISC Release | Bracket
ARLINGTON, Texas - Following a memorable run through the SBC tournament and 32-win season, UTA softball received its first postseason selection since 2003, earning a bid to the National Invitational Softball Championship. The Mavericks (32-26) will open play in the Beaumont, Texas Regional on Thursday against Abilene Christian at 4 p.m.
"This is a great opportunity to continue to compete and grow as a program," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "It is a honor to be a part of the NISC in the inaugural year. This team has really started to show what they are capable of and I'm looking forward to seeing them continue coming together."
Hosted by Lamar University, the regional consists of UTA, ACU, Lamar and fellow Sun Belt member ULM. The team's will play a double-loss elimination bracket between Tuesday, Wednesday and final on Thursday. The winner of the region will advance into a six-team championship round beginning on May 24.
The Mavericks were one of three teams from the league to earn a bid into the NISC, while Texas State and Louisiana reached the NCAA Tournament. Georgia State, a host of its regional, is the other team from the conference.
UTA found its stride late in the season as it picked up nine wins over Top-100 RPI teams during the last 15 games of the regular season, including wins over Georgia State, Texas State and South Alabama. The Mavs then made a run into their first conference semifinal since 2010 when it defeated Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and South Alabama.
Sam Clakley, who went 3-2 during the tournament, was joined by Laura Curry on the All-Tournament team. Curry blasted a game-tying three-run homer on two outs against Georgia State and knocked a triple against South Alabama that led to the tying run.
The selection is the first for UTA in a postseason since winning the Southland Conference tournament championship in 2003. The Mavericks are 2-2 all-time in the postseason since 1982. UTA features wins in the NCAA Tournament over Florida State and Florida.
Region 1: Stockton, CA (Pacific hosts)
UC Santa Barbara (31-26) vs. Nevada (28-23), 1 p.m.
Pacific (27-24) vs. Cal Poly (34-19), 4 p.m.
Region 2: Ogden, UT (Weber State hosts)
San Diego (22-22) vs. Utah State (32-16), 1 p.m.
Weber State (33-19-1) vs. Boise State (30-18), 4 p.m.
Region 3: Normal, IL (Illinois State hosts)
Michigan State (31-22) vs. Murray State (35-18), 4 p.m.
IUPUI (23-29) vs. Illinois State (30-21), 7 p.m.
Region 4: Beaumont, TX (Lamar hosts)
Abilene Christian (32-20) vs. UT Arlington (32-26), 4 p.m.
Lamar (28-28) vs. UL Monroe (30-28), 7 p.m.
Region 5: Atlanta, GA (Georgia State hosts)
Alabama State (21-33) vs. Western Kentucky (29-29), 1 p.m.
Game 1 Winner vs. Kennesaw State (36-18), 4 p.m.
UT Martin (38-18) vs. Georgia State (34-23), 7 p.m.
Region 6: Lynchburg, VA (Liberty hosts)
Iona (26-22) vs. Campbell (29-27), 1 p.m.
Game 1 Winner vs. Ohio (39-16), 4 p.m.
UNCW (33-18) vs. Liberty (38-21), 7 p.m.
About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing events in youth athletics and the college ranks for more than 30 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men's and women's Cancun Challenge tournaments in November, which have been recognized by Sports Illustrated as a top-5 destination tournament for D-I basketball programs. Triple Crown is also rolling out a new "WNIT" concept in D-I volleyball, beginning in 2017. TCS youth fastpitch tournaments (including the 1,000-team Sparkler/Fireworks event) draw the nation's finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes.
