Empire 8 Softball Tournament Field Set; Utica Clinches Top Seed
On the final weekend of the Empire 8 regular season the Utica College Pioneers swept Stevens Institute of Technology to earn the top seed and the right to host the 2013 Softball Tournament with a league record of 9-3.
Elmira and St. John Fisher each finished with an 8-4 record but it was the Soaring Eagles who held the tiebreak over the Cardinals due to an early season sweep of top-seeded Utica.
Elmira will serve as the No. 2 seed and Fisher will be No. 3.
Alfred University and Ithaca College went to a tiebreak for the fourth and final seed with a 7-5 E8 record. And it was the Saxons who held the edge due to a split with Utica, while the Pioneers swept the Bombers.
The double elimination tournament will begin on Friday, May 3 and continue through May 4 and possibly May 5 if necessary. The Empire 8 Champion will earn the automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.
Friday?May 3
Game 1: No. 2 Elmira v No. 3 Fisher - 10am
Game 2: No. 4 Alfred s No. 1 Utica - Noon
Game 3: Loser of Game 1 v Loser of Game 2 - 2pm
Game 4: Winner of Game 1 v Winner of Game 2 - 4pm
Saturday, May 4?
Game 5: Winner of Game 3 v Loser of Game 4 – 11 a.m.
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 v Winner of Game 5 - 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 5
Game 7: If necessary (to avoid any team having to play three games in one day).