May 7, 2007

Complete Regional Tournament Information

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University will host the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional softball tournament May 10-14 at the Lewis Softball Field on the University's main campus in Romeoville.

The Great Lakes Regional is one of eight regional tournaments that comprise the 64-team NCAA field. The eight regional champions advance to the finals in Akron, Ohio, May 17-21.

Lewis (34-12), which finished runner-up at the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship tournament, is the No. 2 seed. The Flyers will play No. 7 seed Missouri-Rolla (28-16) in Game 4 of the first round Thursday, May 10, at 4:30 p.m.

Lewis, ranked No. 7 in the nation and 10-2 at home this season, is making its eighth overall and second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. The Flyers' best finish in the NCAA tournament came during the 2001 season when the team finished national runner-up.  

Other Thursday first-round games match No. 5 seed Wayne State (39-15), the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) champion, against No. 4 seed Grand Valley State (GLIAC, 32-16) in Game 1 at 9 a.m.; No. 8 Shepherd (31-17), the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) champion, and No. 1 Southern Illinois Edwardsville (41-8), ranked No. 13 in the nation and the GLVC champion in Game 2 at 11:30 a.m.; and No. 6 Ferris State (GLIAC, 29-15) and No. 3 Gannon (37-13), the GLIAC tournament champion in Game 3 at 2 p.m.

Friday's action will match the losers of Game 1 and 2 at 9 a.m., the losers of Game 3 and 4 at 11:30 a.m., the winners of Game 1 and 2 at 2 p.m. and the winners of Game 3 and 4 at 4:30 p.m. The regional championship game is scheduled for Sunday at Noon, with an additional game scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m., if necessary.

Advanced tickets for the Great Lakes Regional may be purchased by calling Lewis Athletics at (815) 836-5247 or by visiting the Lewis Athletics office, located adjacent to Neil Carey Arena. Ticket orders will be taken Monday-Wednesday. Tickets are to be purchased for each day of the tournament. The price is $10 for adults and $5 for college students with ID, seniors (60 and over) and children ages 3-17. Children 2 and under are free. Ticket purchases during the tournament will be cash only.