Colleges

Softball tournaments

All three are double-elimination.

By Times staff writers
Published May 12, 2005

CONFERENCE USA

WHEN/WHERE: Today-Saturday. USF Softball Complex, Tampa.

TICKETS: All-session passes are $20 for adults, $10 for children and seniors; single-day passes are $8 for adults, $4 for children and seniors.

SCHEDULE: Today - No.3 East Carolina vs. No.6 Southern Miss, 10 a.m.; No.4 USF vs. No.5 Houston, 12:30; No.2 DePaul vs. ECU-Southern Miss winner, 4; No.1 Louisville vs. USF-Houston winner, 6:30 Friday - Games scheduled for 10 a.m., 12:30, 4 and 6:30; Saturday - Game scheduled for 10 a.m., final at 2.

FAVORITES: Louisville (40-16) went 20-4 in C-USA, but three losses came in a sweep against East Carolina. The Pirates have 55 wins, 15 more than any other C-USA team. Louisville is led by sophomore shortstop Courtney Moore, the league's co-player of the year after leading it in average (.407) and setting a school record with 13 home runs. Its ace is league pitcher of the year Aja Sherman, who set school records with 12 shutouts and 237 strikeouts this season.

DARK HORSE: USF (38-24, 15-9) is the only team to beat East Carolina and Louisville. When the Bulls hosted Louisville in March, the teams split two games before the Cardinals prevailed 1-0 in eight innings. USF coach Ken Eriksen said any of three pitchers, Bree Spence, Danielle Urbanik and Kasey Cash, could start today's opener. But look for him to try to save Spence, the freshman from Countryside High, to face Louisville.

FOR UPDATES: www.conferenceusa.com

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

SEC

WHEN/WHERE: Today-Sunday, Florida Softball Stadium, Gainesville.

TICKETS: All-session passes for adults are $35, $20 for children and seniors; single-day passes for adults are $10 for adults, $6 for children and seniors.

SCHEDULE: Today - No.3 Auburn vs. No.6 South Carolina, 11 a.m.; No.2 Alabama vs. No.7 Mississippi State, 1:30; No.4 Tennessee vs. No.5 Florida, 5; No.1 Georgia vs. No.8 LSU, 7:30. Friday - Games scheduled for 11 a.m., 1:30, 5 and 7:30. Saturday - Games scheduled for 11 a.m., 1:30, 5 and 7:30. Sunday - Elimination game (if needed) scheduled for 9:30 a.m.; Final scheduled for 2 (Sun Sports). FAVORITES: Georgia (48-12, 26-4 SEC) won the East and is No.8 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. The Bulldogs earned their second SEC regular-season title in three years, and their roster includes 11 players batting .300 or above. Kim Wendland leads the team with a .417 batting average, and Michelle Green is 22-3 with a 1.21 ERA. Alabama (53-12, 23-7) ranks in the top three in school history in every statistical category, including first in strikeouts with 514. In 50 of 65 games, the Tide has scored first winning 46 of those games.

DARK HORSE: The Gators (41-19, 18-12) are just 8-16 all-time in the SEC tournament, but don't underestimate the homefield advantage. Florida slumped two weeks ago, losing six straight, but ended the regular season on a five-game win streak. The Gators have just four seniors, but the coaching staff doesn't believe that will be a factor. "I think this tournament is anybody's game," assistant Carie Dever-Boaz said. "The bottom line is who gets hot from the first day on. We have as good a chance as anybody. I think your top four to five, it's anybody's for grabs."

FOR UPDATES: www.secsports.com

- ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times staff writer

ACC

WHEN/WHERE: Today-Sunday. University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

SCHEDULE: Today - No.4 N.C. State vs. No.5 North Carolina, 11 a.m.; No.2 Florida State vs. No.7 Virginia Tech, 1:30; No.3 Virginia vs. No.6 Maryland, 5; No.1 Georgia Tech vs. N.C. State-North Carolina winner, 7:30. Friday - Games scheduled for 11, 1:30, 5 and 7:30. Saturday - Games scheduled for noon, 3:30 and 7. Sunday - Final scheduled for at noon; second game (if needed) at 4:30.

FAVORITES: It's hard not to like Georgia Tech, ranked No.17 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. The Yellow Jackets (46-12, 11-4) lead the league in hitting (.298), runs (293) and pitching (1.45 ERA). FSU (38-20, 11-6) hasn't been consistent, but it has won at least a share of 10 ACC titles since joining the league in 1991-92. Tech swept visiting FSU in late March.

DARK HORSE: The Terps (23-18, 5-9) are last in the ACC in hitting but tied for second in pitching (1.71 ERA) behind senior Jessica Aditays (9-4, 1.73 ERA), junior and Countryside High graduate Crystal Crews (5-7, 1.80 ERA), sophomore Elyse Lucas (5-4, 1.34 ERA) and sophomore Abbey Welch (7-4, 1.87 ERA, three saves).

FOR UPDATES: www.theacc.com

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

[Last modified May 12, 2005, 00:31:16]