WSU to take on Washington in NCAA Regionals

May 17, 2016

The Weber State University softball team cheers after learning where they will be playing in the NCAA Softball Tournament. Photo credit: Michael Grennell

The 2016 Big Sky Champion Weber State University softball team (37-17) will head to Seattle, Washington, to take on the 11-seed Washington Huskies (36-13) in the NCAA Regionals on May 20 at 8 p.m. MDT at the Husky Softball Stadium.

“We know the the team we are playing against, and we know the experience,” head coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “We are just happy that we are going to be there.”

Weber State took on the Huskies earlier in the season during the Fresno State Classic where Washington came out on top 10-3 in six innings.

“It was a good experience for us, and I think being able to play them again will be good for our team to face that competition,” Tournament MVP and Big Sky Player of the Year Aubrey Whitmer said.

Minnesota (41-12) and North Dakota State (38-18) will also play in the double-elimination regional tournament with their game beginning at 5:30 p.m. MDT on May 20.

“I am pretty excited to be back home,” WSU sophomore pitcher Bailey Seek said of playing at the University of Washington, located just 30 minutes away from her hometown. “We’re going to be facing some tough competition. I think it will be good for us.”

The tournament winner earns the right to advance to the NCAA Super Regional Tournament hosted by Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Super Regional tournament is a best two-of-three competition, the winner of which will advance to the eight-team Women’s College World Series on June 2-8 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

“We have played the toughest schedule we have ever been a part of, and that is going to help us,” Amicone said. “We are not afraid of anyone. We will go in and battle and compete in this situation.”