2016 NCAA Division I softball tournament
American college softball tournament
Collegiate softball tournament
The 2016 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 20 through June 8, 2016 as the final part of the 2016 NCAA Division I softball season . The 64 NCAA Division I college softball teams were to be selected out of an eligible 293 teams on May 15, 2016. Thirty-two teams were awarded an automatic bid as champions of their conference, and thirty-two teams were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2016 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City in which the Oklahoma Sooners were crowned the champions.
Automatic bids
The Big 12, Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular season champion. All other conferences have the automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.
Conference
School
Best finish
Reference[ 1]
America East
Maine
Regionals(2004 )
[ 2]
American
Tulsa
Regionals(2006 , 2008 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 )
[ 3]
ACC
Florida State
WCWS(1987 , 1990 , 1991 , 1992 , 1993 , 2002 , 2004 , 2014 )
[ 4]
A-10
Fordham
Regionals(2010 , 2011 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 )
[ 5]
A-Sun
USC Upstate
Regionals(2013 , 2014 , 2015 )
[ 6]
Big 12
Oklahoma
1st (2000 ), (2013 )
[ 7]
Big East
Butler
1st Appearance
[ 8]
Big Sky
Weber State
Regionals (2015 )
[ 9]
Big South
Longwood
Regionals (2013 , 2015 )
[ 10]
Big Ten
Minnesota
WCWS 1976, 1978
[ 11]
Big West
Cal State Fullerton
1st (1986 )
[ 12]
Colonial
James Madison
Regionals (2009 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 )
[ 13]
Conference USA
Florida Atlantic
Regionals (1999 , 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 )
[ 14]
Horizon League
Valparaiso
Regionals(2012 , 2013 )
[ 15]
Ivy League
Princeton
WCWS (1995 ), (1996 )
[ 16]
MAC
Miami (OH)
Regionals(2005 , 2009 , 2012 )
[ 17]
MAAC
Marist
Regionals(2006 , 2013 )
[ 18]
MEAC
Florida A&M
Regionals(1995 , 1997 , 1998 , 1999 , 2005 , 2006 , 2009 , 2014 , 2015 )
[ 19]
MVC
Wichita State
Regionals(1989 , 2005 )
[ 20]
Mountain West
Fresno State
1st (1998 )
[ 21]
Northeastern
LIU Brooklyn
Regionals(2008 , 2012 )
[ 22]
OVC
Jacksonville State
Super Regionals (2009 )
[ 23]
Pac-12
Oregon
3rd(2014 )
[ 24]
Patriot League
Boston University
Regionals (1996 , 2002 , 2003 , 2009 , 2010 , 2012 , 2014 )
[ 25]
SEC
Auburn
4th(2015 )
[ 26]
SoCon
Samford
1st Appearance
[ 27]
Southland
McNeese State
Regionals (1994 , 2005 , 2010 )
[ 28]
SWAC
Alabama State
1st Appearance
[ 29]
Summit League
North Dakota State
Super Regionals(2009 )
[ 30]
Sun Belt
Louisiana–Lafayette
WCWS(2008 , 2014 )
[ 31]
WAC
Cal State Bakersfield
1st Appearance
[ 32]
WCC
BYU
Super Regionals (2010 )
[ 33]
National seeds
16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show Sunday, May 15 at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPNU . The 16 national seeds hosted the Regionals. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advanced to Women's College World Series .
Regionals and Super Regionals
The Regionals took place May 19–22. The Columbia regional took place May 19–21 because of BYU's no Sunday-play policy. All other regionals occurred May 20–22. The Super Regionals took place from May 26–29.
Gainesville Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
1
Florida
11 (5)
Alabama State
0
1
Florida
5
UCF
0
Florida Atlantic
0
UCF
1
1
Florida
8 (5)
—
Gainesville Regional
UCF
0
—
Alabama State
0
Florida Atlantic
8
UCF
2
Florida Atlantic
1
1
Florida
0
2
—
16
Georgia
3
3
—
16
Georgia
6
Maine
0
16
Georgia
5
Northwestern
2
Oklahoma State
1
Northwestern
2
16
Georgia
3
6
Athens Regionals
Oklahoma State
5
0
Maine
1
Oklahoma State
10
Northwestern
2
Oklahoma State
3
Tallahassee Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
9
Kentucky
6
Butler
1
9
Kentucky
0
Utah
3
Illinois
0
Utah
1
Utah
0
5
Lexington Regional
9
Kentucky
4
3
Butler
1
Illinois
2
9
Kentucky
3 (8)
Illinois
2
Utah
2
0
—
8
Florida State
6
3
—
8
Florida State
1
Florida A&M
0
8
Florida State
4
South Carolina
0
South Florida
0
South Carolina
2
8
Florida State
2
—
Tallahassee Regional
South Carolina
1
—
Florida A&M
4
South Florida
6
South Carolina
6
South Florida
0
Eugene Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
5
Oregon
8 (5)
Fordham
0
5
Oregon
5
Baylor
0
Long Beach State
2
Baylor
3
5
Oregon
8
—
Eugene Regional
Baylor
1
—
Fordham
1
Long Beach State
9
Baylor
11
Long Beach State
2
5
Oregon
8
1
1
12
UCLA
1
2 (9)
2
12
UCLA
7
Cal State Bakersfield
0
12
UCLA
3
Cal State Fullerton
2
Cal State Fullerton
6
Fresno State
4
12
UCLA
5
—
Los Angeles Regional
Cal State Fullerton
4
—
Cal State Bakersfield
5
Fresno State
8
Cal State Fullerton
7
Fresno State
1
Auburn Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
13
Tennessee
10 (6)
Marist
2
13
Tennessee
0
Arizona
4
Ohio State
0
Arizona
2
Arizona
4 (8)
—
Knoxville Regional
13
Tennessee
3
—
Marist
1
Ohio State
6
13
Tennessee
10 (5)
Ohio State
1
Arizona
5
1
1
4
Auburn
3
4
6
4
Auburn
2
Jacksonville State
1
4
Auburn
6
USC Upstate
1
Oregon State
2
USC Upstate
5
4
Auburn
14 (5)
—
Auburn Regional
Jacksonville State
2
—
Jacksonville State
5
Oregon State
4
USC Upstate
2
Jacksonville State
3
Norman Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
3
Oklahoma
7
Wichita State
2
3
Oklahoma
9
Ole Miss
1
Tulsa
1
Ole Miss
5
3
Oklahoma
3
—
Norman Regional
Ole Miss
0
—
Wichita State
2
Tulsa
1
Ole Miss
4
Wichita State
0
3
Oklahoma
8
7
—
14
Louisiana–Lafayette
2
6
—
14
Louisiana–Lafayette
9
Boston University
5
Texas
1
14
Louisiana–Lafayette
9
Texas
5
Texas A&M
0
14
Louisiana–Lafayette
9 (9)
—
Lafayette Regional
Texas A&M
8
—
Texas A&M
6
Boston University
0
Texas
3
Texas A&M
9
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
11
Washington
14 (5)
Weber State
6
11
Washington
5
Minnesota
2
Minnesota
7
North Dakota State
2
11
Washington
15 (6)
—
Seattle Regional
Minnesota
7
—
Weber State
2
North Dakota State
5
Minnesota
7
North Dakota State
5
11
Washington
1
2
—
6
Alabama
2 (8)
5
—
6
Alabama
3
Samford
0
6
Alabama
3
California
1
California
1
Texas State
0
6
Alabama
8
—
Tuscaloosa Regional
California
0
—
Samford
0
Texas State
2
California
4
Texas State
3
Harrisonburg Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
7
James Madison
7
Princeton
0
7
James Madison
10
North Carolina
1
Longwood
4
North Carolina
6
7
James Madison
5
—
Harrisonburg Regional
Longwood
1
—
Princeton
1
Longwood
2
North Carolina
4
Longwood
5 (9)
7
James Madison
3
0
2
10
LSU
2
2
3
10
LSU
10 (6)
LIU Brooklyn
2
10
LSU
4
McNeese State
1
Arizona State
2
McNeese State
5
10
LSU
2
—
Baton Rouge Regional
Arizona State
0
—
LIU Brooklyn
0
Arizona State
1
McNeese State
2
Arizona State
3 (14)
Ann Arbor Super Regional
Round 1
Round 2
Regional Finals
Super Regionals
15
Missouri
9 (5)
BYU
0
15
Missouri
8 (6)
Nebraska
0
Nebraska
3
Louisville
2
15
Missouri
9 (5)
—
Columbia Regional
Nebraska
0
—
BYU
6
Louisville
4
Nebraska
2
BYU
0
15
Missouri
3
4
—
2
Michigan
5
5
—
2
Michigan
8 (5)
Valparaiso
0
2
Michigan
6
Miami (OH)
0
Notre Dame
2
Miami (OH)
3
2
Michigan
6
—
Ann Arbor Regional
Notre Dame
2
—
Valparaiso
0
Notre Dame
8
Miami (OH)
0
Notre Dame
5
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series was held June 2 through June 8, 2016, in Oklahoma City.
Participants
School
Conference
Record (conference)
Head coach
WCWS appearances† (including 2016 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†*
WCWS W–L record† (excluding 2016 WCWS)
Alabama
SEC
51–14 (17–8)
Patrick Murphy
11 (last: 2015 )
1st (2012 )
17–19
Auburn
SEC
58–12 (16–7)
Clint Myers
2(last: 2015 )
3rd(2015 )
2–2
Florida State
ACC
55–10 (21–2)
Lonni Alameda
9(last: 2014 )
3rd(2002 )
6–15
Georgia
SEC
46–20 (12–12)
Lu Harris-Champer
3(last: 2010 )
3rd(2009 , 2010 )
4–4
LSU
SEC
52–18 (13–11)
Beth Torina
5(last: 2015 )
3rd(2004 , 2015 )
7–8
Michigan
Big-10
52–7 (21–2)
Carol Hutchins
12(last: 2015 )
1st(2005 )
13–22
Oklahoma
Big-12
52–7 (17–1)
Patty Gasso
10(last: 2014 )
1st(2000 , 2013 )
17–14
UCLA
Pac-12
40–16–1 (16–5–1)
Kelly Inouye-Perez
26(last: 2015 )
1st(1982 , 1984 , 1985 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 1992 , 1995 *, 1999 , 2003 , 2004 , 2010 )
95–30
Bracket
First round
Second round
Semifinals
Finals
16
Georgia
5
8
Florida State
4
16
Georgia
3
4
Auburn
4
4
Auburn
10
12
UCLA
3
4
Auburn
8 (8)
—
8
Florida State
7
—
8
Florida State
8
12
UCLA
4
2
Michigan
0
8
Florida State
1
4
Auburn
2
11 (8)
1
3
Oklahoma
3
7
2
3
Oklahoma
3 (8)
6
Alabama
0
3
Oklahoma
7
2
Michigan
5
2
Michigan
2
10
LSU
0
3
Oklahoma
7
—
10
LSU
3
—
6
Alabama
4
10
LSU
6
16
Georgia
1
10
LSU
4
Finals
National championship
Auburn
v.
Oklahoma
Game 1
Game 2
June 7, 2016 – 7:00 p.m. CDT at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Oklahoma
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
10
2
Auburn
0
5
0
2
0
0
0
4
11
13
2
WP : Makayla Martin (15–3) LP : Jayden Chestnut (9–1)Home runs : OKLA: Kady Self AUB: Whitney Jordan, Kasey Cooper, Emily Carosone Attendance: 8,409Boxscore
Game 3
June 8, 2016 – 6:00 p.m. CDT at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Auburn
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
2
Oklahoma
2
0
0
0
0
0
x
2
5
1
WP : Paige Parker (38–3) LP : Makayla Martin (15–4)Home runs : AUB: Jade Rhodes OKLA: NoneAttendance: 8,367
Record by conference
The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, CS, and NC respectively stand for the Regional Finals, Super Regionals, College World Series Teams, National Semi-Finals, Championship Series, and National Champion.
Radio
Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of the championship series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com and through TuneIn . Kevin Kugler and Leah Amico provided the call for Westwood One.
Television
ESPN holds exclusive rights to the tournament. They aired games across ESPN, ESPN2 , and ESPNU . Select regionals and super-regionals were broadcast on additional ESPN stations like SEC Network , ESPN3 , SEC Network Plus, and Longhorn Network . Any regionals not picked up by ESPN were streamed online by the host institution or broadcast by their television partners.
Broadcast assignments
Regionals
Super Regionals
Gainesville: Trey Bender & Jennie Ritter
Norman: Adam Amin & Amanda Scarborough
Harrisonburg: Jenn Hildreth & Carol Bruggeman
Tallahassee: Cara Capuano & Leah Amico
Tuscaloosa: Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, & Jessica Mendoza
Ann Arbor: Pam Ward & Cheri Kempf
Auburn: Tiffany Greene & Jenny Dalton-Hill
Eugene: Mark Neely & Danielle Lawrie
Women's College World Series
Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough, & Laura Rutledge (afternoons)
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith, & Holly Rowe (evenings & championship series)
References
^ "2016 Division I Softball conference championships, automatic qualifiers" . NCAA .com. May 15, 2016.
^ "Maine softball team wins first conference title in 12 years" . WCSH . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "TU Shuts Out USF, Claims AAC Championship" . News 9 Now / News on 6 Now . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Florida State softball wins ACC title" . 247Sports.com . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Softball Wins Four in a Row to Clinch Fourth Straight Atlantic 10 Championship" . Fordham Sports. May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "USC Upstate wins ASun softball championship" . WYFF . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Oklahoma Softball Wins Fifth Consecutive Big 12 Title With Sweep Of Texas Tech" . SB Nation . May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016 .
^ "Butler rallies in extra innings to win its first conference title" . NCAA . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Whitmer, Kubo lead Weber State softball to Big Sky tourney title, NCAA bid" . KSL-TV . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "#WoodYouBelieve: Back-to-Back Champs!!!" . Longwood Lancers . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "UM loses to Minnesota in 10 innings in Big Ten final" . The Detroit News . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Titans claim Big West title, take series against Matadors" . The Daily Titan . May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016 .
^ "JMU Softball Wins CAA Championship Beating Towson 8-0" . WVIR-TV . May 13, 2016. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016 .
^ "Owls win Conference USA championship game over UAB" . University Press. May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Crusaders' Tournament Run Culminates With Walk-Off Championship game Win" . Valparaiso. May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Princeton Wins First Softball Championship Series Since 2008" . Ivy League. May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016 .
^ "Bobcats fall to Miami in MAC softball final" . The Athens Messenger . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "MAy 14 Marist roundup: Softball team wins MAAC title" . Times Herald-Record . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Rattlers bring down B-CU for third straight MEAC title" . Tallahassee Democrat . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Wichita State Shockers Win MVC softball tournament Championship" . KSNW . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Fresno State softball clinches MW title, NCAA bid" . The Fresno Bee . May 1, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016 .
^ "Long Island University - Official Athletics Website" . Long Island University .
^ "Jacksonville State Wins OVC Softball Championship" . WIAT . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Oregon Ducks softball wins fourth straight Pac-12 championship with 5-1 win over Utah Utes" . The Register-Guard . May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016 .
^ "Boston U wins 2016 Patriot League Softball Championship" . Campus Insiders . May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Auburn wins back to back SEC softball tournament titles" . Montgomery Advertiser . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Samford wins SOCON Softball Championship" . WIAT . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "BREAKING: McNeese State softball team Southland Conference champs" . American Press. May 13, 2016. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016 .
^ "ASU wins SWAC softball championship" . Montgomery Advertiser . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Bison Softball earns Summit League Tournament Championship" . KVLY-TV . May 14, 2016. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Aleah Craighton's grand slam caps Cajuns' dominant 12-0 victory over Texas State" . The Advocate . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Larios HR in 7th powers CSUB softball into NCAA Tournament" . The Bakersfield Californian . May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
^ "Bravo's 12th-inning RBI single helps BYU clinch WCC title" . Deseret News . May 14, 2016. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016 .
2015–16 NCAA Division I championships
† Not an officially sanctioned NCAA championship