May 15, 2005

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The bracket for the 64-team NCAA Division I Softball Tournament was announced on Sunday evening, and the Patriot League's 2005 champion, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, are headed to the University of Arizona to take on the No. 3 seed and host Wildcats on Friday, May 20.

Head coach Fran Troyan's Mountain Hawks (41-8) claimed the Patriot League Tournament title by defeating Army twice in a rain-interrupted championship in Bethlehem, Pa., last week. Pitcher Emily Ling was named Most Valuable Player.

Lehigh is making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and owns a 1-4 all-time record. Last year, the Mountain Hawks were shut out by Nebraska and Florida Atlantic in the double-elimination tournament.

This time, LU will open against Arizona (39-10), co-champion of the Pac-10. Princeton (35-18) and Oklahoma State (33-22) make up the rest of the region in Tucson.

The first two games will take place on Friday, at times to be determined. Saturday's action will then trim the regional to two teams, and those teams will meet Sunday for the right to advance to the Super Regionals on May 27-28.

Michigan State is the No. 1 overall seed in the tourney, while UCLA is the two-time defending champion.

Live audio of games involving Lehigh in the NCAA Tournament will be available at lehighsports.com.