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2018 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site
Champions Florida State (1st title)
Runner-up Washington (13 WCWS Appearance)
Winning coach Lonni Alameda (1st title)
MOP Jessie Warren ( Florida State)
Television ESPN
ESPN2
ESPN3

The 2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 18 through June 6, 2018 as the final part of the 2018 NCAA Division I softball season. Thirty-two teams were awarded automatic bids as champions of their conferences, and the remaining 32 were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2018 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. This was the first year since the 2010 Women's College World Series that neither the Florida Gators nor the Oklahoma Sooners made the Championship Series. The Florida State Seminoles played in their first Women's College World Series Championship Series and became the first ACC team to make the Championship Series. The Washington Huskies made their fourth appearance in the Championship Series.

Automatic bids

The Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences have the automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.

Conference School Best finish Reference
America East Albany Regionals
( 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017)
American Tulsa Regionals
( 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
ACC Florida State WCWS
( 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2016)
A-10 Fordham Regionals
( 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
ASUN Kennesaw State 1st Appearance
Big 12 Oklahoma 1st
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017)
Big East DePaul WCWS
( 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007)
Big Sky Sacramento State Regionals
( 1993, 1995, 2008)
Big South Liberty Regionals
( 2002, 2011)
Big Ten Minnesota WCWS
(1976, 1978)
Big West Cal State Fullerton 1st
( 1986)
Colonial Hofstra Super Regionals
( 2012)
Conference USA Middle Tennessee Regionals
( 2000)
Horizon League UIC WCWS
( 1994)
Ivy League Harvard Regionals
( 2007, 2011, 2012)
MAC Ohio Regionals
( 2014)
MAAC Monmouth 1st Appearance
MEAC Bethune–Cookman Super Regionals
( 2005)
MVC Drake Regionals
( 2008)
Mountain West Boise State 1st Appearance
Northeastern Saint Francis (PA) Regionals
( 2017)
OVC Jacksonville State Super Regionals
( 2009)
Pac-12 Oregon 3rd
( 2014, 2017)
Patriot League Boston University Regionals
( 1996, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
SEC Florida 1st
( 2014, 2015)
SoCon UNCG Regionals
( 1997)
Southland McNeese State Regionals
( 1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017)
SWAC Prairie View A&M 1st Appearance
Summit League North Dakota State Super Regionals
( 2009)
Sun Belt Texas State Regionals
( 1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017)
WAC New Mexico State Regionals
( 2011, 2015, 2017)
WCC BYU Super Regionals
( 2010)

National seeds

16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show Sunday, May 13 at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. [1] The 16 national seeds host the Regionals. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advance to Women's College World Series.

Regionals and Super Regionals

The Regionals took place May 17–20, 2018. One regional- Eugene, Oregon, took place May 17–19, 2018, because of BYU's no-Sunday-play policy; all other regionals occurred May 18–20, 2018. The Super Regionals took place from May 24–27, 2018.

Eugene Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
1 Oregon 4
Albany 0
1 Oregon 5
Drake 0
BYU 2
Drake 3
1 Oregon 3
Eugene Regional
Drake 0
BYU 16(5)
Albany 0
Drake 3
BYU 0
1 Oregon 6 6 11(5)
16 Kentucky 9 1 1
16 Kentucky 10(5)
UIC 1
16 Kentucky 10
Notre Dame 0
Notre Dame 4
Michigan 1
16 Kentucky 8(6)
Lexington Regional
Notre Dame 0
UIC 0
Michigan 6
Notre Dame 2
Michigan 1

Tempe Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
8 Arizona State 2
New Mexico State 0
8 Arizona State 7
Ole Miss 1
Long Beach State 1
Ole Miss 9
8 Arizona State 9
Tempe Regional
Ole Miss 0
New Mexico State 0
Long Beach State 9
Ole Miss 1
Long Beach State 0
8 Arizona State 5 5
9 South Carolina 2 2
9 South Carolina 3
UNC Greensboro 0
9 South Carolina 1
Liberty 3
Liberty 2(10)
Hofstra 0
Liberty 0 0
Columbia Regional
9 South Carolina 2 5
UNC Greensboro 0
Hofstra 6
9 South Carolina 5
Hofstra 4

Seattle Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
5 Washington 8(5)
Boise State 0
5 Washington 2
Texas 1
Texas 2
Minnesota 1
5 Washington 5
Seattle Regional
Minnesota 2
Boise State 3
Minnesota 11
Texas 0
Minnesota 3
5 Washington 3(9) 6
12 Alabama 2 0
12 Alabama 8(6)
Middle Tennessee 0
12 Alabama 9
Wisconsin 1
Oregon State 3
Wisconsin 9(8)
12 Alabama 6
Tuscaloosa Regional
Oregon State 0
Middle Tennessee 0
Oregon State 4
Wisconsin 1
Oregon State 5

Norman Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
4 Oklahoma 9(5)
Boston University 0
4 Oklahoma 8
Tulsa 0
Tulsa 9(5)
Missouri 1
4 Oklahoma 7
Norman Regional
Missouri 0
Boston University 8
Missouri 10
Tulsa 5
Missouri 6
4 Oklahoma 7 9
13 Arkansas 2 0
13 Arkansas 2
DePaul 0
13 Arkansas 5
Wichita State 0
Wichita State 8
Oklahoma State 2
13 Arkansas 6
Fayetteville Regional
Wichita State 4
DePaul 0
Oklahoma State 6
Wichita State 5
Oklahoma State 4

Los Angeles Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
3 UCLA 3
Sacramento State 0
3 UCLA 2
Cal State Fullerton 3(9)
Cal State Fullerton 2
Texas State 1
Cal State Fullerton 0 4
Los Angeles Regional
3 UCLA 3 6
Sacramento State 4
Texas State 8
3 UCLA 14(5)
Texas State 1
3 UCLA 7 3
14 Arizona 1 2
14 Arizona 1
Saint Francis (PA) 0
14 Arizona 6
North Dakota State 0
Mississippi State 4
North Dakota State 5
14 Arizona 4
Tucson Regional
Mississippi State 3
Saint Francis (PA) 5
Mississippi State 11
North Dakota State 0
Mississippi State 12

Tallahassee Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
6 Florida State 8(5)
Jacksonville State 0
6 Florida State 2(8)
Auburn 1
Auburn 5
Kennesaw State 2
6 Florida State 10
Tallahassee Regional
Jacksonville State 0
Jacksonville State 5(10)
Kennesaw State 3
Auburn 2
Jacksonville State 3
6 Florida State 5 8(11) 3
11 LSU 6 5 1
11 LSU 9(5)
Fordham 0
11 LSU 1
Houston 0
Houston 1
Louisiana 0
11 LSU 4 3
Baton Rouge Regional
Louisiana 5 1
Fordham 3
Louisiana 15(5)
Houston 2
Louisiana 7

Athens Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
7 Georgia 6
Harvard 2
7 Georgia 12
Northwestern 0
Northwestern 3(8)
California 2
7 Georgia 9
Athens Regional
Northwestern 7
Harvard 1
California 10
Northwestern 4
California 3
7 Georgia 4 2(8)
10 Tennessee 3 1
10 Tennessee 9(5)
Monmouth 0
10 Tennessee 12
James Madison 3
James Madison 2
Ohio 1
10 Tennessee 5
Knoxville Regional
Ohio 1
Monmouth 0
Ohio 4
James Madison 3
Ohio 7

Gainesville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
2 Florida 8(6)
Bethune–Cookman 0
2 Florida 10(6)
Ohio State 2
South Florida 1
Ohio State 3
2 Florida 4
Gainesville Regional
Ohio State 0
Bethune–Cookman 0
South Florida 3
Ohio State 3
South Florida 2
2 Florida 5 4 5
15 Texas A&M 4 5 3
15 Texas A&M 9(5)
Prairie View A&M 0
15 Texas A&M 10(6)
McNeese State 1
Baylor 10
McNeese State 11
15 Texas A&M 10
College Station Regional
Baylor 4
Prairie View A&M 0
Baylor 9(5)
McNeese State 0
Baylor 6

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held May 31 through June 6, 2018, in Oklahoma City.

Participants

School Conference Record (conference) Head coach WCWS appearances†
(including 2018 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†* WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2018 WCWS)
Arizona State Pac-12 48–11 (16–8) Trisha Ford 12
(last: 2013)
1st
( 2008, 2011)
17–16
Florida SEC 55–9 (20–4) Tim Walton 9
(last: 2017)
1st
( 2014, 2015)
25–14
Florida State ACC 52–11 (21–3) Lonni Alameda 10
(last: 2016)
3rd
( 2002, 2016)
8–17
Georgia SEC 48–11 (16–8) Lu Harris-Champer 4
(last: 2016)
3rd
( 2009, 2010)
5–6
Oklahoma Big 12 55–3 (18–0) Patty Gasso 12
(last: 2017)
1st
( 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017)
27-15
Oregon Pac-12 52–8 (21–3) Mike White 6
(last: 2017)
3rd
( 2014, 2017)
6–10
UCLA Pac-12 55–5 (20–4) Kelly Inouye-Perez 28
(last: 2017)
1st
( 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995*, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010)
96–34
Washington Pac-12 49–8 (15–8) Heather Tarr 13
(last: 2017)
1st
( 2009)
21–19

† = From NCAA Division I Softball Championship Results

Bracket

First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
1 Oregon 11
8 Arizona State 6
1 Oregon 2
5 Washington 6
4 Oklahoma 0
5 Washington 2
5 Washington 3
4 Oklahoma 0
8 Arizona State 0
4 Oklahoma 2
2 Florida 0
4 Oklahoma 2
5 Washington 0 3
6 Florida State 1 8
3 UCLA 7
6 Florida State 4
3 UCLA 6
2 Florida 5
2 Florida 11(5)
7 Georgia 3
3 UCLA 1 6
6 Florida State 3 12
6 Florida State 7
7 Georgia 2
1 Oregon 1
6 Florida State 4

All-tournament Team

The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.

Position Player School
P Rachel Garcia UCLA
Paige Parker Oklahoma
Gabbie Plain Washington
C Taylor Pack UCLA
Anna Shelnutt Florida State
2B Sydney Sherrill Florida State
3B & MOP Jessie Warren Florida State
SS Sis Bates Washington
OF Bubba Nickles UCLA
Trysten Melhart Washington
U Jocelyn Alo Oklahoma
Meghan King Florida State
Elizabeth Mason Florida State

Championship Game

[2]

School Top Batter Stats.
Florida State Seminoles Elizabeth Mason (DP) 2-3 3 RBIs HR K
Washington Huskies Noelle Hee (DP) 1-2 RBI
School Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Florida State Seminoles Meghan King (W) 7.0 5 3 1 0 4 25 28
Washington Huskies Taran Alvelo (L) 3.1 7 7 6 1 4 16 18
Washington Huskies Gabbie Plain 2.2 2 1 1 2 1 10 11

Schedule

Game Time* Matchup# Television Attendance
Thursday, May 31
1 11:00 a.m. No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Arizona State ESPN 8,561
2 1:30 p.m. No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Washington
3 6:00 p.m. No. 2 Florida vs. No. 7 Georgia ESPN2 8,472
4 8:30 p.m. No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Florida State
Friday, June 1
5 6:00 p.m. No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 5 Washington ESPN 9,311
6 8:30 p.m. No. 3 UCLA vs No. 2 Florida
Saturday, June 2
7 11:00 a.m. No. 8 Arizona State vs. No. 4 Oklahoma ESPN 8,728
8 1:30 p.m. No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 7 Georgia
9 6:00 p.m. No. 2 Florida vs. No. 4 Oklahoma 8,728
10 8:30 p.m. No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 6 Florida State
Sunday, June 3
11 12:00 p.m. No. 5 Washington vs. No. 4 Oklahoma ESPN 8,932
12 2:30 p.m. No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Florida State
13* 6:00 p.m.* No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 6 Florida State ESPN2 6,903
14* 8:30 p.m.* Not Necessary
Monday, June 4
Finals, G1 6:00 p.m. No. 5 Washington vs. No. 6 Florida State ESPN 8,152
Tuesday, June 5
Finals, G2 7:00 p.m. No. 5 Washington vs. No. 6 Florida State ESPN 8,123
Wednesday, June 6*
Finals, G3* 7:00 p.m. ESPN
*Game times in CDT. # – Rankings denote tournament seed.* = if necessary

Record by conference

Conference # of Bids Record Win % RF SR WS NS F NC
ACC 2 11–4 .714 2 1 1 1 1 1
Pac-12 7 33–13 .717 6 5 4 2 1
Big 12 4 11–8 .579 2 1 1 1
SEC 13 43–28 .606 12 9 2
Big Ten 5 8–10 .444 3
American 4 5–8 .385 1
Big West 2 3–4 .429 1
Sun Belt 2 4–4 .500 1
Big South 1 2–2 .500 1
MAC 1 2–2 .500 1
Missouri Valley 1 2–2 .500 1
Ohio Valley 1 2–2 .500 1
CAA 2 2–4 .333
Other 19 5–38 .116

The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, F, and NC respectively stand for the Regional Finals, Super Regionals, College World Series Teams, National Semi-Finals, Finals, and National Champion.

Media coverage

Radio

Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of the championship series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com, through TuneIn, and on SiriusXM. John Sadak made his softball radio debut and joined returning analyst Leah Amico for Westwood One.

Television

ESPN holds exclusive rights to the tournament. They aired games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and ESPN3. For the second time in the history of the women's softball tournament ESPN covered every regional. [3]

Broadcast assignments

References

  1. ^ "It's Absolute #MAYhem on ESPN for College Softball's Biggest Month with More than 70 Conference Games, 11 Championships in Four Days". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "National Champions!!!". Seminoles.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "The Field is Set! ESPN Covers Every Game from All 16 NCAA Division I Softball Regionals". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "ESPN to Televise Every Game of NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals for 12th Consecutive Season". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "All Roads Lead to OKC: ESPN Presents Every Inning of the Women's College World Series". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Women's College World Series Best of Three Championship Series Live on ESPN; For the First Time, Second-Screen Viewing Option Added on ESPN3". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 4, 2018.