Florida A&M Lady Rattlers To Face Gators In NCAA Regional

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (May 11) – The FAMU Lady Rattlers (24-27) will face the Gators of the University of Florida (45-11) on May 15 in Gainesville, Fla.  The pairing was announced tonight on the NCAA selection show, aired live on ESPNU.

The Lady Rattlers, fresh off their romp through the MEAC tournament, watched the show at Buffalo Wild Wings as a group.  The place erupted as their name came across the screen in the Gainesville Regional.

The regional tournament will be double elimination, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Super Regional.  The Gators earned an automatic bid to the tournament as did the Lady Rattlers, but because of their No.5 seeding, they will host and can stay at home as long as they win, leading up to the NCAA Softball College World Series.

The Lady Rattlers last won the MEAC Tournament, advancing to the NCAA Regional in 2009.  They were eliminated by the then ranked No.1 Florida Gators 12-0, followed by a 9-0 loss to Lehigh.  That season, the Florida Gators made it all the way to the championship series in Oklahoma City before being defeated two straight games in a best of three by the Washington Huskies.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION