RELEASE DATE: 5/10/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield faces West Chester in opening game of NCAA Atlantic Regional in Reading on Thursday

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University baseball team will play in the opening game of the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship Tournament when the fifth seeded Mountaineers (32-18) face second seed West Chester (36-12) at 11 a.m. at Owl Stadium just outside Reading in West Lawn, PA on Thursday, May 13.

All Mansfield’s games will be streamed live at GoMounties.com with Bob Michaels of RLM Sports providing the play-by-play.

Kutztown (37-12), the one seed, will play California (32-16), the PSAC Tournament Champion and sixth seed, at 2:30 p.m. followed by third seed Seton Hill (35-19), the WVIAC Tournament Champion, hosting fourth seed West Virginia State (31-14) at 6 p.m. in the opening day schedule.

“It’s great to be back in the national tournament,” said head coach Harry Hillson. “Our guys have worked hard all year to get here and deserve to be here. Now you’re playing with the best 48 teams in the nation for the chance to win the national title.”

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has four of the six teams in the tournament with West Chester, Kutztown and Mansfield finishing 1-2-3 in the PSAC East during the regular season. California, which finished second in the PSAC West during the regular season, stunned the field at the PSAC Championship Tournament to win the title and the conference’s automatic berth in the tournament.

Seton Hill won the WVIAC tournament by defeating West Virginia State on Sunday.

It marks the Mountaineers eighth trip to the NCAA Division II regional playoffs, all of them coming under the direction of head coach Harry Hillson.

 Mansfield’s first regional appearance came in 1988 at New Haven, CT with the Mountaineer winning the Regional Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series in 1992, 1993, and 1994. Mansfield played in the National Championship game in 1992 losing 11-8 to Tampa in the title game.

Mansfield has also appeared in the Regional Championship Tournament in 1997 and most recently in 2002.

West Chester is the defending North Atlantic Regional Champions and won the PSAC East this season. The Golden Rams won 3 of 4 meetings with Mansfield this year.

The tournament is played under a double-elimination format with the winner being one of eight teams to advance to the NCAA Division II World Series.

This is the second Division II regional hosted at Owls Field, one of Pennsylvania’s best American Legion baseball stadiums. The Atlantic Regional champion will advance to the NCAA Division II College World Series which will be played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. from May 22-29. Overall, 48 teams are selected to compete in the NCAA Division II tournament.

Owls Field is comprised of elevated terraces on both the right and left field lines, which is designed for “lawn chair” viewing. There are no bleachers in the stadium, so fans attending the tournament are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for a comfortable view of the games. (click here for information on Owls Field)

Daily tickets are $5 for students and seniors, and $10 for adults. Tournament passes will be $15 for students and seniors, and $30 for adults. Children 6 years of age and younger will be admitted for free throughout the tournament. Children 7 years of age and older will be charged as students.

Owls Field is welcoming to left-handed batters with dimensions down the right field line at 305 feet. The field is 360 feet in left field, 385 in left-center, 415 in center and 375 in right-center.

NCAA Atlantic Regional Game Schedule

Thursday, May 13

Game 2:         (#2) West Chester vs. (#5) Mansfield – 11:00 AM

Game 1:         (#1) Kutztown vs. (#6) California (PA) - 2:30 PM

Game 3:         (#3) Seton Hill vs. (#4) WV State – 6:00 PM

*The NCAA allows the host institution to reserve the right to play at any of the scheduled times on the first day of play. 

Friday, May 14

Game 4:           Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 11:00 AM

Game 5:           Winner Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3 - 2:30 PM

Game 6:           Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 - 6:00 PM

*If four teams remain after game 6 – following schedule applies

Saturday, May 15

Game 7:         Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 - 11:00 AM

Game 8:         Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6 - 2:30 PM

Game 9:         Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7 - 6:00 PM

Sunday, May 16

Game 10:      Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9 - 1:00 PM

Game 11:      if necessary, same teams as in Game 10 - 4:30 PM     

*If five teams remain after game 6 – following schedule applies

Saturday May 15

Game 7:         Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 - 11:00 AM

Game 8:         Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 - 2:30 PM

Game 9:         Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7 - 6:00 PM

*If two teams remain after game 9 – following schedule applies

Sunday May 16

Game 10:      Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 – 1:00 PM

Game 11:      if necessary, same teams as in Game 10 – 4:30 PM

*If three teams remain after game 9 – following schedule applies

Sunday May 16

Game 10:      Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9 – 1:00 PM

Game 11:      Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 4:30 PM