2013 Softball Tournament Preview

ST. LOUIS - Fontbonne University posted their first undefeated season in regular season conference play to clinch the top seed in the 2013 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Softball Tournament. The Griffins hold the #1-seed for the third consecutive year, while Westminster College (Mo.), Spalding University and Eureka College complete the remainder of the field in the #2- through #4-seeds respectively. First round action begins Thursday, May 2, with the championship to be played on Saturday, May 4, all hosted by Principia College in Elsah, Ill.

Top-seeded Fontbonne will face fourth-seeded Eureka at 6:00pm on Thursday. Fontbonne (30-10) went 16-0 in conference play this season, posting the first undefeated conference season in program history and the first in the SLIAC since the 2002 season when Webster University went 12-0. Eureka (21-14) was 9-7 in the conference, including 22-2 and 10-3 losses to Fontbonne earlier in April.

Second-seeded Westminster will face third-seeded Spalding at 4:00pm on Thursday. Westminster (13-9) went 10-4 in league play, including a sweep over Spalding, 8-7 and 10-6, earlier this season. Spalding (19-17) finished 10-6 in the conference.

Fontbonne is 25-10 in 13 SLIAC softball tournament appearances. The Griffins are the defending tournament champion after defeating Webster 6-5 in the 2012 championship game. They have also won a softball record six tournament championships.

Westminster is 8-8 in 10 SLIAC softball tournament appearances. The Blue Jays are making their first tournament appearance since the 2009 season when they were the #4 seed. They have won three tournament championship in 1991, 1992 as the #1 seed and 1993 as the #2 seed.

Spalding will be making their first appearance in the SLIAC Softball Tournament in only their first year eligible for post-season play. The Golden Eagles posted a 19-17 overall record and 10-6 in SLIAC play this season.

Eureka is 1-2 in one SLIAC softball tournament appearance. They qualified in 2010 as the #3 seed and defeated Greenville 13-5 before losing to Webster in Game 5, 11-0.

SLIAC Softball Tournament Bracket:
Thursday, May 2
Game 1 - #3-Spalding vs. #2-Westminster, 4:00pm
Game 2 - #4-Eureka vs. #1-Fontbonne, 6:00pm
Game 3 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 8:00pm

Friday, May 3
Game 4 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6:00pm
Game 5 - Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 8:00pm

Saturday, May 4
Game 6 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, Time TBD
Game 7 - If necessary, Time TBD