The Gustavus softball team will play regular season champion St. Thomas in the first round of the MIAC Post-season tournament on Friday, April 30 at 3:00 pm. The game will be played on the Saint Olaf softball field in Northfield. St. Olaf and Carleton are serving as hosts for the tournament.
Gustavus, which enters the tournament with a record of 21-15, is the #4 seed in the tournament after finishing fourth in the MIAC regular season standings with a record of 15-7. The Gusties lost to the Tommies twice in the regular season by the scores of 12-3 and 6-2. St. Thomas is currently 36-4 overall and ranked #4 in the NFCA Division III Coaches poll. The Tommies won the MIAC regular season title with a mark of 22-0.
This is the first ever MIAC Post-season softball tournament and the winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament is a double-elimination event with the winner of the consolation bracket having to defeat the winner of the championship bracket twice in order to claim the tournament title.
Here is a complete tournament schedule:
2004 MIAC Softball Tournament
in Northfield/April 30 & May 1
Double-elimination format
Tickets: $7 for adults, $3 for students
Fri. April 30
Game 1–3 p.m.:#1 Seed St. Thomas (36-4) vs. #4 Seed Gustavus (21-15) (at St. Olaf diamond)
Game 2–3 p.m.:#2 Seed St. Ben’s (27-5) vs. #3 Seed Hamline (25-14) (at Carleton diamond)
Game 3–5 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 (at St. Olaf )
Game 4–5 p.m.: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (at Carleton) (loser eliminated)
Sat. May 1 (all games at St. Olaf)
Game 5–11 a.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3 (loser eliminated)
Game 6–1:30 p.m.: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Game 7 (If needed)–4 p.m.: Game 6 rematch