FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEFENDING CHAMPS FAVORED IN WEST REGION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women’s softball team will return to the scene of its last regional championship this weekend, earning the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division III West Region playoffs, to be hosted by the University of Redlands. Chapman (27-8) will try to make it three straight regional championships beginning on Thursday when it plays the winner of No. 4 Trinity (Texas) and No. 5 La Verne at 4 p.m. in the newly-expanded seven-team tournament.

Rounding out the field are No. 2 Linfield (29-8), No. 3 Redlands (29-11), No. 6 Whitworth (26-12) and No. 7 Hardin-Simmons (29-10). Chapman boasts an 8-0 record against the West Region tournament field this season, including a pair of wins each against La Verne and Trinity.

This is Chapman’s fourth straight NCAA postseason berth and 10th in the last 12 years under head coach Janet Lloyd. In that time, the Panthers have won seven regional titles (1995, ’96, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’04, ’05) and a national championship (1995).

Chapman, ranked No. 8 in Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, enters the playoffs having won four in a row and 16 of their final 19 games. The Panthers have done it with pitching and dramatic endings. Chapman’s 1.57 team ERA currently ranks 37th in Division III. And the Panthers have earned seven come-from-behind victories this year, including three wins in their final at-bat.

NCAA Division III West Region Championships Schedule
(hosted by University of Redlands)

Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #4 Trinity (Texas) vs. #5 La Verne; 10 a.m.
Game 2: #3 Redlands vs. #6 Whitworth (Wash.); 12 p.m.
Game 3: #2 Linfield (Ore.) vs. #7 Hardin-Simmons (Texas); 2 p.m.
Game 4: #1 Chapman vs. Winner of Game 1; 4 p.m.

Friday, May 12
Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 3; 10 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 6: Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 4; 12 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 7: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3; 2 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6; 4 p.m. (loser eliminated)
 
Saturday, May 13
Game 9: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 7; 10 a.m.
Game 10: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8; 12 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 11: Loser of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10; 2 p.m. (loser eliminated)
 
Sunday, May 14
Game 12: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 11; 12 p.m.
Game 13: Winner of Game 12 vs. Loser of Game 12; 2 p.m. (if necessary)

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For more info log on to the NCAA website: http://www.ncaasports.com/softball/womens
West Region bracket: http://www.sportsline.com/images/ncaasports/brackets/d3_soft_redlands_2006.pdf