Fresno State Press Release
April 28, 2003

Fresno State Selected as NCAA Regional Softball Host Site
Bulldogs host 18th NCAA Regional in 22-year history of NCAA Division I
Softball Championships

FRESNO, CA. - Announced this morning by the NCAA Division I softball committee, the NCAA released the eight regional sites for the 2003 NCAA Division I Softball Championship and Fresno State has been selected for the 18th time in the 22-year history of the NCAA softball tournament.

The eight regional sites are Alabama, Arizona, CS Fullerton, Florida, Fresno State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas.

Each regional site will feature eight teams playing a double-elimination format at the campus sites, Thur.-Sun., May 15-18. The host institution, however, is not guaranteed a bid to the tournament.

This is the first time in which softball regional sites have been announced in advance. Site selections were based on geographic location, quality of facilities and quality of the experience for the student-athletes, including attendance history.

The at-large teams, top-eight national seeds and first-round pairings will be announced live on Sun., May 11, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 PDT) on ESPNEWS. The bracket, which will not be re-seeded prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series, will be the first to announce a 64-team field since the championship began in 1982.

Expanding from last year's field of 48, 26 Division I conferences will receive an automatic berth along with 38 at-large selections.

All-tournament passes for the 2003 NCAA Softball Regional at Fresno State will go on sale to the Bulldog softball season ticket holders on Wed., April 30. Passes can be purchased at the Bulldog Ticket Office (559-278-3647) or go on-line at www.gobulldogs.com. The Bulldog Ticket Office will be taking orders for the general public beginning Tue., May 6. Single day tickets will be available on each day of the regional, only. No refunds will be given if Fresno State does not qualify for the NCAA tournament.