Baseball Earns NCAA Regional Berth
Monday, May 26, 2003 | Baseball
The University of Florida baseball team will appear in its 21st NCAA Regional this week at the University of Miami's Mark Light Stadium, the NCAA announced Monday on ESPN2. The Gators received an at-large and is one of eight SEC teams to receive bids. The regional will run from May 29-June 1 in Coral Gables, Fla.
The Gators will enter the four-team regional as the No. 3 seed and will face No. 2 seed Florida Atlantic (46-14) Friday in the regional opener at 3:30 p.m. No. 1 seed and host Miami (39-14-1) will open play against No. 4 seed Bethune-Cookman (31-17) Friday at 7 p.m. Florida Atlantic also received an at-large berth out of the Atlantic Sun Conference, while Bethune-Cookman earned an automatic berth by winning the MEAC tournament championship.
The winner of the double elimination regional advances to a best two-of-three weekend NCAA Super Regional, pitting two regional winners. The Coral Gables Regional winner has been paired with the Wilson (N.C.) Regional winner consisting of host North Carolina State, Virginia Commonwealth, Western Carolina and LeMoyne
“We are very pleased that we received a bid to play in Miami," Florida head coach Pat McMahon said. "This is the beginning of a new season for our club and all four teams in the regional. We are excited about the challenges that lie ahead.”
Florida will enter regional with a 34-19-1 overall record. The Gators missed the SEC Tournament by just a half a game but went 31-6 at home. UF also went 7-10-1 against top-25 teams. Eight SEC teams received berths to the NCAA and three (LSU, Auburn, Mississippi State) are hosting regionals.
Florida has now been selected to compete in seven of the last eight NCAA Baseball Tournaments. The Gators have advanced to the College World Series two times during that period- 1996 and 1998. The Gators will appear in their 21st all-time NCAA Regional and have appeared in four College World Series.
Tickets to the NCAA Regional can be purchased by calling the University Athletic Association ticket office starting Tuesday, May 27 during normal business hours. You can call 1-800-34-GATOR or 352-375-GoUF. Tickets can also be purchased online at hurricanesports.com.
All-tournament packages are $40 for general admission and $30 for youths 17 and under and seniors 55 and over. Single day passes for Friday and Sunday are $15 for adults and $10 for youths and seniors. Saturday day passes are $20 for adults and $15 for youths and seniors.
FLORIDA NCAA POSTSEASON NOTES
- The regional berth is Florida's 21st all-time berth.
- Florida will appear in an NCAA Regional in Miami for the seventh time in the program's history (1981, 1982, 1985, 1994, 1997, 2001 and now 2003).
- The Gators have advanced to the College World Series four times (1988, 1991, 1996, 1998).
- Florida is 50-42 overall in twenty NCAA Regionals.
- Head coach Pat McMahon will be appearing in his eight NCAA Regional in 11 years as a head coach.
- McMahon is 17-16 all-time in NCAA Regional play.
- Florida went 3-1 during the 2003 season against Miami and Bethune-Cookman. Florida last played Florida Atlantic in the 1997 season.
NCAA Regional Information:
REGIONAL All-Tournament Passes (Does not include SUPER REGIONAL)
Reserved Chairbacks $65
Adult General Admission $40
Youth/Senior General Admission $30
Single Day Passes
Reserved Chairbacks $20 (Fri & Sun); $25 (Sat)
Adult General Admission $15 (Fri & Sun); $20 (Sat)
Youth/Senior General Admission $10 (Fri & Sun); $15 (Sat)
Tournament Schedule:
Friday, May 30: Game 1 - Florida vs. Florida Atlantic 3:30 p.m.
Game 2 - Bethune-Cookman vs. Miami 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 31: Game 3 - Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 12:00 p.m.
Game 4 - Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 1: Game 6 - Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 1:00 p.m.
Game 7 - 45 minutes following (if necessary)
