Linfield hosts NCAA softball regional tournament

Dustin Lau

Jacinda Swiger (#4) getting setup and preparing to bat for Linfield.

Alex Jensen, Sports Editor

Linfield is set host its first NCAA regional tournament Saturday through Monday at Del Smith Stadium. The three-team tournament will host the Northwest Conference co-champion George Fox and the Southern California Intercollegiate Conference tournament champion Claremont-Mudd Scripps.

The full 62-team tournament roster was announced by the NCAA Monday morning. Linfield is one of 16 regional playoff sites through the country picked.

Linfield begins tournament play at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday against No.  3-seed Claremont-Mudd Scripps (CMS) who’s team went 31-12.

CMS will face second-seeded George Fox in the tournaments opening game 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Linfield earned an automatic playoff berth when they went undefeated in the Northwest Conference tournament two weeks ago.

In the NCAA’s double elimination playoff format there are 14 four-team regional sites and two-three team regional sites.

The 16 surviving regional championships advance to compete in eight two-team super regional tournaments. Those eight super regional champions move on to the NCAA World Series, May 24-29, at Oklahoma City, Okla.

The full regional schedule hosted by Linfield:

Saturday, May 12

Game 1: George Fox vs. Claremont-Mudd Scripps, 1 p.m.

Game 2: Linfield vs. Claremont-Mudd Scripps 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 13

Game 3: Linfield vs. George Fox, 2 p.m.

Game 4: see scenarios below, 4:30

Scenario one, if two teams remain after Game 3, the two remaining teams play at 4:30. But if then the undefeated team wins then they advance to the super regional tournament.

Scenario two, if the 1-1 team wins, then Game 5 is played on Sunday and the winner advances.

Scenario three, if three teams remain tied at 1-1 after Game 3, the No. 2 team will play the No. 3 one in the fourth game at 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 14

Game 5: If necessary the No. 1 team plays the winner of Game 4 at noon. And then the winner of Game 5 will advance to the super regional tournament.