ORLANDO – For the first time in program history, the UCF softball team will host an NCAA Regional. The Knights are the No. 16 national seed and will welcome Villanova, South Dakota State and Michigan to the Orlando Regional beginning Friday.
UCF (46-12) will face Villanova in its first matchup in the double-elimination bracket. The winner of that contest will square off with the winner of South Dakota State and Michigan.
Sunday's selection marks the ninth time the Knights have made the NCAA Tournament and the second time under head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. This UCF team will be looking to advance through the regional for the first time in program history. They'll have the chance to do so at home, a place where the Knights went 26-5 this year, recording the most wins at the UCF Softball Complex since 2016.
The American Athletic Conference champion Knights return to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Ball-Malone and the Knights earned the league's automatic bid to the tournament by winning The American Championship in an 11-0 victory over South Florida on Saturday.
UCF's NCAA Tournament History
Year Regional Location Result
2005 Gainesville, Fla. Eliminated in three games
2008 Gainesville, Fla. Regional Final loss to No. 1 Florida
2010 Gainesville, Fla. Eliminated in three games
2012 Gainesville, Fla. Eliminated in two games
2014 Gainesville, Fla. Regional Final loss to No. 5 Florida
2015 Tallahassee, Fla. Regional Final loss to No. 9 FSU
2016 Gainesville, Fla. Regional Final loss to No. 1 Florida
2021 Tallahassee, Fla. Regional Final loss to No. 10 FSU
ORLANDO REGIONAL TEAMS
No. 1 Seed - No. 17 UCF
No. 2 Seed - No. 23 Michigan
No. 3 Seed - South Dakota State
No. 4 Seed - Villanova
SCHEDULE
Game 1 - Friday, May 20, 3:30 p.m.
South Dakota State vs. Michigan
Game 2 - Friday, May 20, 6:00 p.m.
Villanova vs. UCF
Game 3 - Saturday, May 21, 11:00 a.m.
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 4 - Saturday, May 21, 1:30 p.m.
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 5 - Saturday, May 21, 4:00 p.m.
Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Game 6 - Sunday, May 22, 2:00 p.m. (Regional Final, Game 7 to follow at 4:30 p.m. if necessary)
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5
STUDENT TICKETS
A limited amount of free student tickets will be available for this weekend's regional. Links to request will be available soon with Knightmare Society having first opportunity to request with a deadline of May 18 at noon. Any remaining tickets will be available to any currently enrolled UCF student beginning at noon on May 18.
TICKETS
**UPDATE -- May 17, 2022 -- All general admission tickets have been sold out**
A limited number of all-session tickets will be sold through the UCF Athletics Ticket Office. All-session tickets will be good for all games, on all days of the NCAA Regional Tournament. All-session general admission tickets will be available for $25 and all-session standing room only tickets (left field) will be available for $15. No single game or single day passes will be offered at this time. All tickets will be digital, no printed tickets will be available.
Ticket sales will begin tomorrow, May 16th, as follows:
- May 16th 11AM: Shareholder Society Members and 2022 Softball Season Ticket Members
- May 16th 1PM : 2021-2022 UCF Season Ticket Members and Donors
- 2021 Football, 2022 Football, 21-22 Basketball, 2022 Baseball, 2021 Volleyball
- May 17th 10AM - General Public
Due to high demand, all ticket orders will be limited to FOUR per account.
Tickets can be purchased online at your selection time using the button below, or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000.
*Please note: To purchase tickets online you must login with the email address associated with your Shareholder Society membership / season ticket purchase.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Stay tuned to UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball) for the latest on the UCF softball team.
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