Tampa Baseball Selected to 18th Straight NCAA Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS - The University of Tampa baseball team has been selected to its 18th consecutive NCAA Division II South Regional, which will include a total of seven teams.

Gulf South Conference champion Delta State University has been chosen as the host of the double-elimination tourney. The tournament, which will be held in Cleveland, Miss., will begin Thursday and end with Monday's regional title game(s).

The region will feature several national powers as four of the last 13 NCAA II national champions will be among the field. Tampa won the 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2015 championships as fellow Sunshine State Conference opponents Florida Southern College and Nova Southeastern University won in 2005 and 2016, respectively.

Receiving automatic bids for the tournament are Miles, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) winners, Delta State from the Gulf South Conference, and Tampa from the Sunshine State Conference.

Top-seeded Delta State, is followed by No. 2 Tampa, No. 3 Nova Southeastern, No. 4 Florida Southern, No. 5 Valdosta State, No. 6 West Alabama, and No. 7 Miles.

The University of Tampa will enter postseason play with an overall record of 37-13 as the Spartans finished SSC play with a 20-4 record.

This marks the 18th straight NCAA tournament appearance for Tampa, as head coach Joe Urso has advanced to the tourney in each of his 17 seasons at the helm.

Please visit TampaSpartans.com for complete information on UT Baseball in the NCAA South Regional.

Following is a list of Thursday's matchups. Game times will be announced by the host institution.

Thursday, May 18

No. 1 Delta State receives the bye
No. 4 Florida Southern vs. No. 5 Valdosta State
No. 2 Tampa vs. No. 7 Miles
No. 3 Nova Southeastern vs. No. 6 West Alabama