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Sophomore outfielder Erin Boone will lead Lenoir-Rhyne University into the NCAA Division II playoffs on Thursday against Limestone. PHOTO COURTESY OF LRU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Lenoir-Rhyne University is returning to the NCAA Division II women’s softball playoffs for the 12th time in school history.
The Bears (46-11), after sharing a regular-season South Atlantic Conference (SAC) title with Carson-Newman, landed the No. 5 seed in the Southeast Regional tournament when the NCAA released pairings on Monday.
LRU starts the playoffs Thursday at 4:30 p.m. by facing No. 4 seed Limestone (43-11) at Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium on the campus of North Georgia.
Top-seeded and third-ranked North Georgia (44-10) plays North Greenville, S.C., (35-17), the eighth seed, on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the other game of the sub-regional.
Third-seeded Armstrong State (30-11), out of Savannah, Ga., is the site of the other half of the Southeast Regional, which features second-seeded Carson-Newman (43-11), sixth-seeded Young Harris (42-12) and seventh-seeded Pfeiffer (44-6).
The winners of the two Southeast Regionals will meet at the highest remaining seed on May 18-19 in a Super Regional. That winner earns a berth to the Division II Championships on May 25-29 at the James Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.
LRU is ranked No. 13 in NCAA Division II and is coming off a share of its 11th SAC regular season title in school history.
The Bears feature senior catcher Sarah Kenley of Charlotte, the SAC Player of the Year this season and sophomore outfielder Erin Boone of Creedmoor.
LRU has not played North Greenville or North Georgia this season. Limestone visited Hickory on March 16 and swept the Bears in a doubleheader 5-2, 7-2.
NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL SOUTH REGIONAL PAIRINGS
At North Georgia (Dahlonega, Ga.)
Thursday
Game 1: No. 8 North Greenville (35-17) at No. 1 North Georgia (44-10), 2 p.m.
Game 2: No. 5 LRU (46-11) vs. No. 4 Limestone (43-11), 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, noon
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
Saturday
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, noon
Game 7: if necessary, 2:30 p.m.
At Armstrong State, Ga. (Savannah, Ga.)
Thursday
Game 1: No. 6 Young Harris (42-12) at No. 3 Armstrong State (30-11), noon
Game 2: No. 2 Carson-Newman (43-11) vs. No. 7 Pfeiffer (44-6), 2:30 p.m.
Friday
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
Saturday
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, noon
Game 7: if necessary, 2 p.m.
— Reported by LRU Sports Information