The Emory softball program will be one of 62 teams vying for first place when it begins the postseason by hosting the Atlanta Regional of the 2018 NCAA D-III Championships. Action begins on Friday and runs through Sunday (May 11-13).
The Eagles of head coach Penny Siqueiros, who enter the upcoming weekend as the Regional's No. 1 seed, stand 28-10 on the year and are making their 15th trip to the NCAAs in the 20-year history of the program. Emory's opening foe in the double-elimination event on Friday will be No. 4 seed Maryville College (29-12), with that contest slated for a 2:30 pm start. Preceding that contest will be No. 4-ranked Berry College (36-4), the No. 2 seed, battling No. 3 seed Lynchburg College (30-12) beginning at noon. A schedule of this weekend's games is listed below.
Friday, May 11
Game 1 – Berry College vs. Lynchburg College (12:00 pm)
Game 2 – Emory vs. Maryville (2:30 pm)
Saturday, May 12
Game 3 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (11:00 am)
Game 4 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (1:30 pm)
Game 5- Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3 (4:00 pm)
Sunday, May 13
Game 6 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 (Noon)
Game 7 – if necessary (2:30 pm)
Emory captured an at-large bid to the national tournament and brings a home record of 16-2 into this weekend's action. The Eagles have won their last 14 outings played on their home field including a four-game sweep of New York University (Apr. 27-28) in their final regular-season action of the campaign. When the Eagles take the field on Friday, it will represent the third time over the past five years that they have hosted the opening round (2014 & 2015). The NCAA began the four-team regional pods in 2014.
The Scots of Maryville College earned an automatic bid to the postseason after winning their first-ever USA South Tournament title. MC is playing in its third NCAA Tournament and first in 11 years. Head Coach Leah Kelly (Maryville, 2011) is in her fourth campaign and checks into the weekend with a school and career ledger of 90-73. This season's record of 29-12 is a school record for most wins in a year.
The 4th-ranked Vikings of Berry come to Atlanta with a 12-game winning streak that has boosted their overall slate to 36-4. BC landed an automatic nod to the NCAAs after winning its fourth straight Southern Athletic Association crown. Calling the shots for Berry is 10th-year head coach Cori Thiermann who has compiled a school and career slate of 272-93.
Lynchburg begins the postseason with a mark of 30-12. Guided by 20th-year head coach Dawn Simmons (Lynchburg, '1997), the Hornets are making the program's sixth trip to the NCAAs and first since 2014 after earning an at-large nod.
Since the adoption of the four-team Regionals, Emory stands 6-0 at home when it has hosted, with the previous scores as follows
May 10, 2015
Emory 4, Berry 2 (8 inn.)
May 9, 2015
Emory 1, Averett 0
May 8, 2015
Emory 2, LaGrange 0
May 11, 2014
Emory 6, Piedmont 1
May 10, 2014
Emory 13, Piedmont 12
May 9, 2014
Emory 5, Agnes Scott 1
Emory has an all-time record of 43-31 in NCAA Tournament play … Penny Siqueiros (the program's only coach) is in her 20th year as at the Emory helm and owns a school and career record of 659-196-1 …Pitching and defense have been staples of this year's Emory squad with the circle corps posting an ERA of 1.76 that paces the University Athletic Association and that ranks 13th among all D-III schools … The Eagles have blanked 10 opponents this year with that effort leading the league and placing 27th nationally … Emory checks into the weekend with a conference-best fielding percentage of .968 which slots 21st in the D-III ranks … Freshman pitcher Jacqueline Spizizen has enjoyed a fine rookie season, crafting a ledger of 16-5 with her victory total first in the UAA, 31st nationally and tied for 15th on the program's seasonal chart … The owner of a conference-leading ERA of 1.43 (33rd in D-III), Spizizen has fanned 135 opposing batters with that mark second in the conference and 45th in D-III … In addition, Spizizen has chalked up a school-record tying four saves … Leading the Emory hitting attack is junior left fielder Jenna Wilson who will enter the weekend with a .456 effort at the plate, good for second place in the UAA … Wilson has produced a team-best 47 hits in 103 plate appearances and also sets the pace on the club in on-base percentage (.477) … Wilson is first on the squad and second in the UAA with 20 stolen bases (20 atts.), good for a third-place tie on the school's seasonal ladder … Sophomore Jessy McLean is hitting at a .362 clip (38-of-105) and is second to Wilson (15) with 11 multi-hit outings … McLean has socked a team-leading nine doubles and is tied for second with 20 runs and 19 RBIs … McLean, who is tied with sophomore Greta Wilker and junior Cassie Baca, for the team lead with five performances of two or more RBIs, has the club's longest hitting streak of the year at nine games (Apr. 6-17) … Sophomore Sarah Katz stands as the toughest player in the UAA and 16th in the D-III ranks to strike out, fanning just one time in 80 trips to the plate … Cassie Baca has recorded a team-high 22 ribbies this season to goal along with a .302 hitting mark that has seen her deliver 35 safeties (second on the team) in a team-high 116 trips to the plate.