May 13, 2007

Columbia, Mo. -The Missouri softball team (38-22) will travel to Carbondale, Ill., and take on Southern Illinois (40-14), Mississippi Valley State (29-26) and 14th-seeded DePaul (42-11) in an NCAA Regional tournament beginning Friday, May 18. The Tigers will open regional play with a game against Southern Illinois, Friday, May 18, at 4:30 p.m. (CT). Saturday and Sunday's game times are still being finalized.

One of six Big 12 schools named to the 64-field team, this marks Missouri's 11th trip to an NCAA Regional and fourth appearance in five years. In Missouri's most recent NCAA outings, the Tigers played games against Southern Illinois and Mississippi Valley State. Missouri lost a one run game to the Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State in 2004 (in Los Angeles) and split with SIU in 2005 (at home in Columbia, Mo.).

Missouri leads 14th-seeded DePaul, 6-4, in the all-time series and most recently met with the Blue Demons in 2001. The last time Missouri met on the diamond with Mississippi Valley State was last season. Missouri outscored the Devilettes, 19-1, at the Tiger Invitational held on University Field. Mississippi Valley State claimed its fourth Southwestern Athletic Conference this season.

Missouri and Southern Illinois, two programs that have met annually for the past three seasons are located 256 miles apart. The Tigers lead SIU, 15-12, in the all-time series. Southern Illinois finished second in the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament.

Other Big 12 teams selected to an NCAA Regional tournament include third-seeded Oklahoma, fourth-seeded Texas A&M, eighth-seeded Baylor, Nebraska and Texas. Texas A&M and Nebraska were both selected to host a regional tournament.

Defending National Champion Arizona received the No. 1 seed and will host N.C. A&T or Howard, Pacific and Mississippi State.