TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 22 Arizona State softball will travel to Oxford, Miss., to begin their 2017 postseason run, the NCAA announced Sunday evening with the unveiling of the 64-team bracket.
"I think this shows the work that this team has put in this year," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Every year it gets harder and I think most coaches would say that. When you are in college athletics you know that making it to the postseason is hard and that it is not a guarantee. For me this is just a great representation of the support that we have from administration. I think this is a time if the year where you get to reset and you get to start another 'season'. This time of year, it is winner take all and it is exciting."
The Sun Devils, who earned an at-large bid, will take on North Carolina Friday evening in the first round of the Oxford Regional. ASU, who has become accustomed to the south east, will be making their third straight trip to a SEC host school.
The Sun Devils, who finished the 2017 regular season with a 30-20 record, including a 9-15 mark in Pac-12 play, will travel to Mississippi looking to fight their way to the program's third NCAA National Championship, after winning their last title in 2011.
"We are excited," said senior Sashel Palacios. "Postseason is the best time of the year. This is where good teams shine and step up. I feel like we have been preparing all season for this and I don't think we feel any pressure. For us it is more just excitement. This is my last time, so why not go out with a bang? It is just time to go to work."
The Sun Devils will be joined in Oxford by the University of North Carolina who finished No. 3 in the ACC with a 36-18 overall record in 2017. No. 19 Ole Miss, the regional host, will begin their 2017 postseason with a matchup against Southern Illinois, the champions of the Missouri Valley Conference.
This season marks the 29th NCAA postseason appearance for the Sun Devils, and 39th overall appearance in postseason play, including postseason appearances before the NCAA era. The 2017 season also marks the 11th season that the Sun Devils will hit the road to begin postseason play.
"I don't think there is any better preparation than playing in the Pac-12." Ford added. "I like where our team is mentally and I think they are confident. They know that they can go into any situation and they are prepared."
Fans can keep up with all of the action from postseason play by following the team at @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
2017 NCAA Oxford Regional Schedule
Game 1: Friday - Arizona State vs. North Carolina | 6 p.m. | ESPN
Game 2: Friday - Southern Illinois vs. Ole Miss | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN3
Game 3: Saturday - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 | 1:30 p.m. | TBA
Game 4: Saturday - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 | 4 p.m. | TBA
Game 5: Saturday - Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3 | 6:30 p.m. | TBA
Game 6: Sunday - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 | 1:30 p.m. | TBA
Game 7: Sunday - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 | 4 p.m. | TBA
"I think this shows the work that this team has put in this year," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Every year it gets harder and I think most coaches would say that. When you are in college athletics you know that making it to the postseason is hard and that it is not a guarantee. For me this is just a great representation of the support that we have from administration. I think this is a time if the year where you get to reset and you get to start another 'season'. This time of year, it is winner take all and it is exciting."
The Sun Devils, who earned an at-large bid, will take on North Carolina Friday evening in the first round of the Oxford Regional. ASU, who has become accustomed to the south east, will be making their third straight trip to a SEC host school.
The Sun Devils, who finished the 2017 regular season with a 30-20 record, including a 9-15 mark in Pac-12 play, will travel to Mississippi looking to fight their way to the program's third NCAA National Championship, after winning their last title in 2011.
"We are excited," said senior Sashel Palacios. "Postseason is the best time of the year. This is where good teams shine and step up. I feel like we have been preparing all season for this and I don't think we feel any pressure. For us it is more just excitement. This is my last time, so why not go out with a bang? It is just time to go to work."
The Sun Devils will be joined in Oxford by the University of North Carolina who finished No. 3 in the ACC with a 36-18 overall record in 2017. No. 19 Ole Miss, the regional host, will begin their 2017 postseason with a matchup against Southern Illinois, the champions of the Missouri Valley Conference.
This season marks the 29th NCAA postseason appearance for the Sun Devils, and 39th overall appearance in postseason play, including postseason appearances before the NCAA era. The 2017 season also marks the 11th season that the Sun Devils will hit the road to begin postseason play.
"I don't think there is any better preparation than playing in the Pac-12." Ford added. "I like where our team is mentally and I think they are confident. They know that they can go into any situation and they are prepared."
Fans can keep up with all of the action from postseason play by following the team at @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
2017 NCAA Oxford Regional Schedule
Game 1: Friday - Arizona State vs. North Carolina | 6 p.m. | ESPN
Game 2: Friday - Southern Illinois vs. Ole Miss | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN3
Game 3: Saturday - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 | 1:30 p.m. | TBA
Game 4: Saturday - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 | 4 p.m. | TBA
Game 5: Saturday - Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3 | 6:30 p.m. | TBA
Game 6: Sunday - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 | 1:30 p.m. | TBA
Game 7: Sunday - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 | 4 p.m. | TBA