ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Carson-Newman softball team is the second seed and will face seventh-seeded Brevard College to open the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament, which begins on Wednesday at the Lady Eagle Softball Complex.
The Lady Eagles, who are 36-13-1 overall and were 14-4 in the conference, are ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Poll. The Tornados went 6-12 against conference opponents are 28-19 overall. C-N swept the regular season series with Brevard. First pitch for Wednesday's meeting is set for 2 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne University, which won its seventh conference championship in school history, is the top seed.
The Bears clinched the conference championship with a sweep over Brevard on Sunday. The conference championship is the fifth in the last six years for the Bears, who were 16-2 against league competition. Lenoir-Rhyne, the defending tournament champion, is ranked 10th in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. The Bears, 37-8 overall, are also ranked second in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region poll.
Lenoir-Rhyne will face eighth-seed Lincoln Memorial at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Railsplitters went 6-12 in conference play and are 25-22 overall. Lenoir-Rhyne and LMU opened conference play on March 19, with the Bears taking both contests.
Catawba College is the third seed. The Indians went 12-6 in conference play and are 29-17 overall. Catawba will face sixth-seed Mars Hill College at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Mars Hill is 7-11 in conference play and 29-18 overall. Catawba won both games over Mars Hill when they met on April 7.
Tusculum College and Wingate University tied for fourth place in the conference standings with 11-7 records. Tusculum earned the fourth seed by virtue of its sweep over Wingate when they met on March 19. Tusculum, 30-15 overall, will face Wingate, 30-13 overall, in the tournament's opening game at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
The top eight teams in the conference earned berths to the Food Lion SAC Tournament.
The tournament continues on Thursday with two games at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn., and four games at Carson-Newman. Three games are scheduled on Friday. The championship game is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, with a second game to follow, if necessary.
The tournament champion will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.
All-Tournament tickets will be available at the gate for $15 for adults and $7 for children and students. Fans showing their Food Lion MVP card can save $2 on the price of an adult All-Tournament ticket.
Daily ticket prices are $7 for adults and $3 for children and students. Fans showing their Food Lion MVP card can save $1 off the price of an adult ticket.
Food Lion is the title sponsor for all South Atlantic Conference championships.
Wednesday, April 20
Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament
At Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Game 1: No. 4 Tusculum vs. No. 5 Wingate, 9 a.m.
Game 2: No. 3 Catawba vs. No. 6 Mars Hill, 11:30 a.m.
Game 3: No. 2 Carson-Newman vs. No. 7 Brevard, 2 p.m.
Game 4: No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. No. 8 Lincoln Memorial, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 21
Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament
At Walters State Community College, Morristown, Tenn.
Game 5: Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 9 a.m.
Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 11:30 a.m.
At Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Game 7: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 8: Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 11:30 a.m.
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 22
Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament
At Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament
At Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Championship Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 15 (if necessary): Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser, 3:30 p.m.
