ITTA BENA – The Mississippi Valley State softball team gathered Sunday night in the Devil’s Den on campus to find out where and when it will play in the NCAA Tournament.
As the NCAA Softball Selection Show aired on ESPNU, the SWAC champion Devilettes were elated to learn the news that they’ll be traveling this week to play in the regional hosted by No. 13 South Alabama (45-7) in Mobile, which is scheduled for May 17-19. Other teams competing in the regional include Mississippi State (32-22) and Florida State (41-16).
The Devilettes (24-26) will begin the tournament on Friday against South Alabama at 6 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN3.
“I’m glad that this good group of players gets to keep their season going,” said MVSU head coach Lee Smith. “They worked hard all season and showed what they’re made of at the SWAC Tournament by winning five straight games. They’ve excelled both on the field and in the classroom, so this is something that they definitely deserve.”
It marks the eighth time MVSU has played in the NCAA Tournament. The Devilettes hold a 3-16 record in the tournament, with wins against Missouri and Cornell in 2004 and Chattanooga in 2009.
The Devilettes earned a spot in the tournament following five straight victories in last week’s SWAC Tournament in Decatur, Ala. MVSU defeated Alabama State 11-3 to win its eighth tournament title in the last 10 years.
Courtesy: SWAC.org