Razorbacks, California Bound

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas softball team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, announced by the NCAA, Sunday night.
 
This is the fifth time in its 15 years as a program that Arkansas has made the NCAA Tournament, last being during the 2009 season. The four previous times (2000, 2002, 2008 and 2009) the Razorbacks have received a bid to the NCAA Tournament they were sent to the Norman Regional which is only 247 miles from Fayetteville, or approximately four hours. This bid is taking the Razorbacks on a different route to Berkeley, Calif. which is 1,839 miles, or 29 hours away by car.
 
"We are all so excited," says freshman Devon Wallace. "Everyone was jumping up and down screaming, I even spilled my whole plate of food, but we are so happy, especially for the seniors. We did not even consider that we would get a chance to go to California; we all thought we would go somewhere closer, so we are all pumped."
 
Arkansas has a 3-8 record in post season play in the four previous times it has made the Tournament. Opponents that the Razorbacks have faced in the past include Oklahoma and Tulsa in 2009, Oklahoma, Tulsa and Oregon in 2008, Texas A&M, Army and Texas in 2002 and CS-Northridge, Oregon State and Northwestern in 2000. The Razorbacks three victories came over Tulsa in 2008, Army in 2002 and CS-Northridge in 2000.
 
The teams other than Arkansas in the 2012 Berkeley Regional include host team and No. 1 overall seed California, Iona and Boston University. Arkansas received the two seed the regional with Boston University taking the three seed and Iona the four.
 
Arkansas will play its first game against Boston University on Friday at 7 p.m CT. Depending on the outcome of the game the Razorbacks will either play on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT or 7 p.m. CT and potentially another game that night at 9 p.m. CT This is a two game elimination tournament with each team guaranteed to play two opposing teams. The Berkeley Regional final will be played on Sunday at 7/ 9 p.m. CT depending on the two teams records in the tournament. The winner of the Regional will advance to the Super-Regional the following weekend against the winner of the Seattle Regional which includes No. 16 Washington, Harvard, Maryland and Texas Tech.
 
All games will have a live blog and live stats available at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Tournament Schedule
Friday, May 18
5 p.m. - Game One: Boston U. vs. Arkansas Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.

7 p.m. - Game Two: Cal vs. Iona
Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.

Saturday, May 19
3 p.m. - Game Three: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.

5 p.m. - Game Four: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.

7 p.m. - Game Five: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.

Sunday, May 20
5 p.m. - Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.

7 p.m. - Game 7: Rematch of Game 6 (If necessary) Levine-Fricke Field - Berkeley, Calif.
 For more information regarding Razorback softball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.