May 15, 2005

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri was selected as one of 16 schools to host a 2005 NCAA Softball Regional Tournament, May 20-22, at University Field as announced tonight on ESPNews. Currently ranked 18th in the nation, the Tigers (42-13) will compete in a bracket with sixth-seeded Stanford (40-14), Southern Illinois (46-12) and Robert Morris (29-20-1). The Missouri softball team will play game one of the tournament, beginning Friday, May 20, at 2 p.m., (CT). All Missouri games will be broadcast live on KCOU (88.1 FM) and live stats will be provided through www.mutigers.com.

Fresh off of a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Conference Championships, Missouri is one of eight Big 12 teams selected to compete at a NCAA Regional and one of five named host institution. Previously, the largest number of Big 12 schools invited to an NCAA Regional tournament was seven set in 1999. Other league schools competing are Baylor, Kansas, Nebraska Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas. Nebraska, Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma were also selected as host sites.

"This is truly a great honor to be able to host an NCAA Regional tournament," Missouri Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "We're looking forward to a good competition and we're excited that we can provide all of our fans the opportunity to watch some exceptionally good teams go head-to-head at University Field. I've said it before, but our softball team is made up predominantly of young women from hometowns across the Midwest. This is a team that not only Columbia residents can get behind, but one that everyone from the state of Missouri can cheer on."

A total of 64 softball teams from across the nation were selected to compete in one of 16 tournament sites. The University of Michigan (55-4) holds the No. 1 seed. Of the 16 sites, one team from each regional will advance to a Super Regional tournament, May 27-28, at campus locations yet to be determined. This marks the first year the NCAA is using the Super Regional format for softball. Eight teams from the Super Regionals will advance to the NCAA Women's College World Series, June 2-8, in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Tickets for the Columbia, Mo., regional tournament can be purchased by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS. Prices for an all-session pass (six games) are $20 for adults and $12 for children, students and seniors. Single game tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $4 for children, students and seniors.

Opening against Southern Illinois on Friday, the Tigers are tied 9-9 in the all-time series and last met with the Salukis March 31, in Carbondale, Ill., where SIU walked away with a 2-1 win.

Beginning his coaching career at Missouri in 2003, Singleton has taken each of his teams from the past three seasons to an NCAA Regional Tournament and becomes the first MU coach in the 30-year history of the program to make three consecutive NCAA post-season appearances.

For a complete list of host institutions and list of schools competing in the 2005 NCAA Regional Tournament, please visit www.ncaa.com

The Columbia, Mo., regional format is as follows:
Friday, May 20:		Game One-2 p.m. (Missouri/Southern Illinois)
			Game Two-6 p.m. (Stanford/Robert Morris)
Saturday, May 21	Game Three-Noon (Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2)
			Game Four-3:30 p.m. (Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2)
			Game Five-7 p.m.(Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3)
Sunday, May 22	Game Six-1 p.m.Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 5
			(if necessary) Game Seven- Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6