INDIANAPOLIS - Fresh of winning its first America East softball title since 2004, Maine will head to Athens, Ga. for NCAA Regional play, which takes place Friday through Sunday. The Black Bears will face 16th-seeded and host Georgia Friday in their first game of the double elimination regional. Oklahoma State and Northwestern round out the quartet of teams playing in Athens.
Maine, which is making its third NCAA tournament appearance all-time, learned its NCAA draw during the selection show Sunday night on ESPNU.
America East teams have won seven NCAA games since 2007 and made two regional finals.
Maine (28-19) outscored opponents 24-4 in going 3-0 at the America East Championship, becoming the first team to go unbeaten in the conference tournament since 2012. The Black Bears, who placed second in the conference standings in the regular season to earn their best seed since 2010, beat Albany 14-1 in the championship game Saturday.
The Black Bears open tournament play Friday vs. Georgia (40-17) at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN3. Oklahoma State (29-24) and Northwestern (26-26) will square off in the opening game of the regional. The winner of the four-team regional will head to Super Regionals.