Printable Bracket
 
RICHARDSON, Texas – University of Texas at Tyler posted a 31-2 record in league competition to win the regular season title and earn the right to host the 2014 ASC Softball Championship Tournament, April 30-May 4, at Suddenlink Field in Tyler, Texas. The bracket for the eight-team, double-elimination ASC tournament was announced Saturday (April 26) following completion of conference play.

No. 1 Texas-Tyler (31-2, 37-3) enters the ASC tournament winning 18 of its last 19 games and set the ASC record for most wins against conference opponents in a single season (31). Since making their first ASC Tournament appearance in 2008, the Patriots lead the conference with 19 wins (19-9) in the league's postseason event and have claimed two championships (2009, 12). Texas-Tyler has played in the last six championship games and makes its seventh consecutive tournament appearance. The Patriots ended the regular season as the league-leader in hits (400), doubles (83), total bases (592) and is tied for first in batting average (.364) and triples (14). On the mound, Texas-Tyler leads the ASC in wins (37), ERA (0.76), runs allowed (40), earned runs allowed (28) and gave up only four home runs all year.

No. 2 East Texas Baptist (29-4, 35-5), the defending ASC champions, took the No. 2 seed after winning its last 18 consecutive games to close out the regular season. East Texas Baptist has won two of the last three ASC tournaments and leads all teams with seven conference championships, a 34-17 record in tournament play, and is the only team to win at least one game in each tournament since 2000. Over the last 11 games, ETBU has allowed only one run and have outscored opponents 118-1. In addition to scoring a season-high 21 runs in ETBU's season finale, the Tigers set the ASC single-game record for total bases (45), tied the single-game record for most home runs (7) and is the third-best mark in NCAA Division III all-time. East Texas Baptist ends the regular season as the league-leader in runs scored (302), RBI (279), home runs (44), slugging percentage (.571), on-base percentage (.450) and are tied for first in batting average (.364). On the mound, ETBU leads the ASC in opponent batting average (.172), strikeouts (248), hits allowed (154) and walks allowed (26).

No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (23-10, 28-12) enters the tournament riding a season-best 15-game win streak. UMHB is tied with East Texas Baptist for most ASC tournament appearances (15), is 15-28 in tournament play and have played in three championship game (1999, 2001, 03’). Mary Hardin-Baylor hit .306 as a team and scored 186 runs off 327 hits. On the mound, the Cru led the ASC in innings pitched (263.1) and ranked third in team ERA (1.62) and opponent batting average (.210).

No. 4 Louisiana College (21-12, 21-13) ended the season on a high note in an upset win (3-0) over No. 1 Texas-Tyler at Suddenlink Field. The Wildcats are the only team to shutout the Patriots all season. Louisiana College ranks second in tournament appearances (10), wins (28-15) and have played in seven ASC championship games winning three titles (2005, 08', 10'). LC ranks in the top four in several offensive categories including batting average (.328), slugging percentage (.490), on-base percentage (.408), runs scored (222) and home runs (27). On the mound, Louisiana College held opposing teams to a .252 batting average and recorded a 2.79 team ERA.

No. 5 Hardin-Simmons (18-15, 21-17) makes its fifth consecutive ASC tournament appearance and eighth overall. The Cowgirls are 10-10 in tournament play and join ETBU as the only teams to win two straight ASC championships (2006-07). Current coach Arin Spence-Salas was a standout player for the Cowgirls and was named tournament MVP in 2007, the last year HSU won the ASC Championship. The Cowgirls ranked fifth in the ASC in home runs (15) and hit .264 as a team with 128 RBI. On the mound, HSU pitchers held opposing teams to a .260 batting average, and recorded 125 strike outs, both marks rank sixth in the ASC.

No. 6 Texas-Dallas (16-17, 23-17) enters the tournament riding season-high nine-game win streak. Texas-Dallas is 5-8 in the ASC tournament and makes its second consecutive ASC tournament appearance since the Comets made three straight in 2003-05. UTD makes its fifth tournament appearance overall and have played in one title game coming in 2004. UTD bats rank tied for first in triples (14) and fourth in total bases (453) and hits (337). On the mound, the Comets rank third in strike outs (163) and fourth in innings pitched (258.0).

No. 7 Concordia Texas (14-19, 17-23) makes its second consecutive tournament appearance and fifth overall. The Tornados are 3-10 in the ASC tournament and played in the title game in 2000. CTX bats rank third in doubles (60) and fourth in home runs (20). On the mound, the Tornados held opposing teams to a .356 batting average over 249 innings pitched.

No. 8 LeTourneau (11-22, 16-24) makes its first appearance in the ASC tournament. LeTourneau recorded a .266 team batting average on 272 hits and drove in 116 runs. On the mound, the YellowJackets rank third in inning pitched (258.1) and recorded 146 strike outs in addition to a 3.01 team ERA.

The tournament will get underway Wednesday (April 30) as No. 4 Louisiana College will play No. 5 Hardin-Simmons at 4:00 p.m. and No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor will play No. 6 Texas-Dallas at 7:00 p.m. On day two of the tournament, No. 1 Texas-Tyler will play No. 8 LeTourneau at 10:00 a.m. No. 2 East Texas Baptist will play No. 7 Concordia Texas at 1:00 p.m.

The 2014 Championship marks the 16th in league history dating back to 1999 and is the first tournament to be hosted by Texas-Tyler. All games will be available for fans to follow through free live stats on the conference's softball tournament page at www.ASCsports.org.

The ASC champion will earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship. The regionals of the NCAA DIII Championship will be played May 9-11, with the Super Regionals scheduled to be played May 16-17. The NCAA DIII Championship will be played May 22-27 and will be hosted by Texas-Tyler at Suddenlink Field. Tickets are available at NCAA.com.

Please Note: No pets are allowed inside Suddenlink Field, leashed or unleashed. Only properly identified service animals are permitted and they must be leashed at all times. Coolers, glass bottles, alcohol and tobacco products are also not permitted at Suddenlink Field … Tickets for the tournament are available on game days at the Suddenlink Field ticket office. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

Mississippi College is ineligible for participation in ASC Championship Tournaments in sports where the conference holds an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship due to its ineligibility for the national tournament as a Division II reclassification candidate. The Lady Choctaws (24-9, 29-10) finished ASC play in third place in the final ASC standings.

2014 ASC Championship Schedule
April 30-May 4| Tyler, Texas | Suddenlink Field
Hosted by: University of Texas at Tyler
 
Wednesday, April 30
Game 1: #4 Louisiana College vs. #5 Hardin Simmons, 4:00
Game 2: #3 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. #6 Texas-Dallas, 7:00
 
Thursday, May 1
Game 3: #1 Texas-Tyler vs. #8 LeTourneau, 10:00
Game 4: #2 East Texas Baptist vs. #7 Concordia Texas, 1:00
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (elimination), 4:00
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination), 7:00
(6 teams remain)
 
Friday, May 2
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 10:00
Game 8: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 1:00
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7 (elimination), 4:00
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 (elimination), 7:00
(4 teams remain)
 
Saturday, May 3
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 12:00
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 (elimination), 3:00
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11 (elimination), 6:00
(2 teams remain)
 
Sunday, May 4
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 1:00
(Game 15: If Necessary, Game 14 Teams 30 minutes after Game 14)