#1 Barry
40-6
Sunshine State Conference Champions (Automatic Bid)

The top-seeded Buccaneers enter the tournament with a 40-6 record and are ranked third in the NFCA national poll after holding the top spot for three weeks. They rolled off a school and conference record 35-game winning streak from Feb. 2 to April 12 and finished first in the Sunshine State Conference, earning the league’s automatic qualifier. Amber Jack (Jr., LHP, Homestead, Fla.) leads a pitching staff which ranks second in the nation in ERA after finishing first in 2007. She has an ERA of 0.64 with a 26-2 record and two saves in 33 appearances. She has struck out 156 in 195.2 innings and walked just 12, the third-lowest walk ratio in Division II. Offensively, Cristina DeTagle (Sr., RF, North Miami Beach, Fla.) set the Buccaneer career records for hits (218) and batting (.387) this season. She has also played flawlessly in the outfield. Ashley Likens (Jr., 2B, Eugene, Ore.) leads the team with eight homers and 50 RBI, in which she also led the SSC, batting .388. Shyla Rider (Jr., LF, Woodbridge, Va.) has been the leadoff hitter, hitting .368 and leading the team with 36 runs scored. Likens and DeTagle each had 33 runs. Megan Young has been a two-way player, batting .352 and leading the team with 17 doubles, while going 10-4 with a 1.36 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 92.1 innings in the circle.

The Bucs have made 13 previous appearances in the Regional and have hosted three other times (1997, 2002, 2003). They have won three regional titles (1994, 1998, 2002) finished as runner-up in 1998 for their highest finish.

#2 Alabama-Huntsville
50-7
Gulf South Conference Champions (Automatic Bid)

The #2-seed Alabama-Huntsville Chargers come in with a record of 50-7 and are ranked first in the NFCA national poll after sweeping through the Gulf South Conference Tournament last weekend to earn the league’s automatic bid. Freshman pitcher Alex Lewis (Huntsville) received Gulf South Conference top honors capturing both Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors. In 38 appearances, she led the GSC in opponents’ batting average, holding hitters to a .142 mark this season. She also was tops in games finished (23), and saves (10).  Kristina Prater (So., OF, Athens, Ala.) leads the UAH offense, batting .417 with three homers, three triples, 11 doubles and 36 RBI. She also leads the team in steals with 21. Krystal Johnson (So., C, Gardendale, Ala.) isn't far behind Prater hitting .399 with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 43 RBI. Amy Harris (Sr., 3B, Reelsville, Ind.) is the team leader in home runs and RBI with 12 and 60 respectively. Harris moved into third place all time in home runs at UAH with 41. Sage Woodham (Jr., RHP, Daphne, Ala.) has held up her part as the veteran of the young UAH pitching staff. She has earned a record of 21-4 with an ERA of 0.84 in 28 appearances. In 133.1 innings, Woodham has a team-leading 122 strikeouts, 10 complete games and five shutouts. 

The Chargers have made 10 previous regional appearances, including the last six in a row, winning one regional title in 2001 when they finished third.

#3 Saint Leo
35-13
Sunshine State Conference
At-Large

Saint Leo University was selected for the third time in the last four years and the fifth time in the last nine seasons overall to participate in the NCAA Division II South Region Softball Championships.  The Lions posted a 35-13 record with a 14-7 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. Saint Leo is currently ranked 24th nationally by the NFCA. Tatiana Casis (Jr., INF, Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and Ashley Urbanik (Jr., RHP, Riverview, Fla.) led the Lions with 14 homeruns each. Casis leads the team in batting average (.301), slugging (.806), hits (51) and RBI (46). Urbanik is second on the team in RBI with 44. Amanda Patrick (Fr., INF, Tampa, Fla.) is second on the team in hitting with a .345 batting average and 48 hits. Urbanik has also starred on the mound for the Lions posting a 25-8 record with a 1.09 ERA. She racked up 230 strikeouts in 206.1 innings of work. Kiki VonHolt (Sr., RHP, New Port Richey, Fla.) is second on the staff with a 9-5 record and 57 strikeouts in 94 innings.

The Lions are 1-8 all-time in postseason play. They have made four previous trips to the regional.

#4 Tampa
31-11
Sunshine State Conference
At-Large

The University of Tampa Spartans make their first appearance in the NCAA South regional tournament since 2004 and their fourth overall visit. The Spartans ended the season with a 31-11 overall record and a 14-7 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. In the latest NFCA Division II rankings, Tampa is ranked 17th. Ashley Arcuri (Jr. , 2B, Tampa, Fla.) leads the Spartans offense with a .351 batting average, 46 hits including 10 extra-base hits.  Krystal Crooks (Sr., 1B/3B, Tampa, Fla.)  is the leading run producer with 22 RBI on the season. The Spartan pitching staff features Deanna Henriott (Fr., RHP, St.Petersburg, Fla.) and Heather VanLandingham (So., RHP, Tampa, Fla.). Henriott currently sits on a 21-7 record and a 1.65 ERA with 223 strike outs. VanLandingham sports a 10-4 record and a 2.31 ERA.

In 10 previous NCAA tournament games, the Spartans carry a 4-6 overall record in the postseason. Tampa has appeared in the event in 2001, 2002 and 2004. In the most recent appearance, UT won a pair of games in the regional.

#5 Rollins
38-14
Sunshine State Conference
At-Large

The Rollins softball team will be making back-to-back trips to the NCAA South Region Tournament for the first time in school history. The Tars posted a 38-14 during the regular season with a 13-8 mark in the Sunshine State Conference.  The Tars are currently tied for 25th in the nation by the NFCA. Sherri Rabenold (Sr., 1B/CF, Jacksonville, Fla.) leads the Tars offensively, with a .423 batting average, nine home runs, 41 RBI and a .748 slugging percentage. Christine Roser (Fr., Utl., Winter Springs, Fla.) is also a major producer at the plate with a .413 batting average, six home runs and 44 RBI. On the mound, Nicole Anderson (Jr., RHP, Lithia, Fla.) has been extremely dominate, posting a 23-5 record with a 1.09 ERA. She has appeared in 30 games, earning 28 starts. She has limited the opposition to a .177 average and has tallied 218 strikeouts. Junior Rachel Foster has appeared in 24 games with a 14-8 record and a 1.14 ERA. She racked up 188 strikeouts in 135 innings of work.

In the 2007 South Regional, the Tars won in the opening round against Florida Gulf Coast before falling to Barry in the following stage. Rollins came back to beat Arkansas Monticello before eventually falling to Florida Gulf Coast in the semifinals. The Tars hold a 4-4 record all-time in postseason play.

#6 Valdosta State
48-17
Gulf South Conference
At-Large

The sixth-seeded Blazers come in 48-17. They are currently unranked, but appeared in six of the 10 national polls this season, peaking at a high of 11. Alex Acosta (Sr., SS, Hialeah, Fla.) was named the GSC's East Division Player-of-the-Year for the second straight year. She hit .388 on the season and led the league in hits, with 80, and runs batted in, with 64. Acosta, who became the first Lady Blazer to ever win back-to-back Player-of-the-Year honors, was also top five in the conference in runs scored (52), slugging percentage (.655) and home runs (13). Acosta was joined on the first-team All-GSC squad by Robin Williams (Sr., 1B, Valdosta, Ga.) and Kristina Ely (Sr., 2B, Sarasota, Fla.). Williams is hitting .361 on the season with 13 home runs and 56 RBI. Ely set the Valdosta State single season home run record with 19 on the season. She is batting .332 while driving in 51 runs and scoring 56. Kristen Lindsey (Sr. RHP, Valdosta, Ga.) leads the pitching staff with a 21-8 record and 2.24 ERA in 178 innings. She has struck out 134 and walked 58.

The Blazers are looking for their first regional title in seven regional appearances. They have made the regional the last three years in a row.

#7 West Florida
39-21
Gulf South Conference
At-Large

The University of West Florida enters the tournament with a 39-21 record and an 18-8 mark in the Gulf South Conference. Nicky VanCamp (Sr., C/3B, Davenport, Iowa) is the offensive player to watch for the Argonauts. VanCamp blasted 10 homeruns including 55 hits, eight doubles and a triple. She notched 50 RBI during the regular season with a team best .362 batting average.  Jillian LaFrance (So., RHP, Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is second on the team in RBI with 33. Taren Walton (Sr., RHP, Pensacola, Fla.) anchors the West Florida pitching staff, with a 1.80 ERA and a 13-7 record.  She has recorded 126 strikeouts in 130 innings of work, holding the opposition to a .217 batting average. Walton leads the staff with 13 victories and is posting a 3.02 ERA.

The Argonauts are making their seventh South Regional appearance. The last time they participated in the postseason was in 2005. They have won the tournament twice, in 2000 and 2003. West Florida has a 15-11 record at the tournament all-time.

#8 Albany State
36-24
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
(Automatic Bid)

The Lady Rams are 36-24 and are unranked in the NFCA national poll. They won the SIAC Tournament to claim the automatic bid. Kandis Tate (Jr., C, Covington, Ga.) leads the team in batting (.409), homers (13) and RBI (71) She is tied for the lead in runs scored (54). Allyssa Spellman (So., OF, Dover, Del.) is batting .371 with 54 runs scored and 44 RBI. Samantha Hastings (Jr., OF, Niceville, Fla.) leads the team in stolen bases with 16, one of six players on the roster with 10 or more steals. Ta’Shelya Bynum (So, SS, Albany, Ga.) also has 54 runs, while adding seven homers and 50 RBI and batting .339. Mindy Mager (Sr., RHP, Houston, Texas) leads the pitching staff with an 18-1 record and a 2.13 ERA. She has struck out 191 in 184.1 innings, while walking 45. Melissa Hurst (So., RHP, Montgomery, Ala.) is 17-13 in the circle.

The Lady Rams have made two previous trips to the regional and are looking for their first title.