CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The USF Bulls claimed the regular-season title on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Wichita State, wrapping up the top seed for the 2018 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship as a result. The three-day, single-elimination tournament will be held May 10-12 at the USF Softball Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
 
All quarterfinal and semifinal contests will be broadcast live on the American Digital Network via Facebook at facebook.com/americanconf. Saturday’s championship will air live on ESPN2, beginning at Noon ET/11 a.m. CT. All rounds are single-elimination, with the tournament champion earning The American’s automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Softball Championship.
 
By claiming its final weekend series with Wichita State, USF (36-20, 14-7) enters The American Championship as the top seed for the second time in the past three seasons. The host Bulls will open tournament play at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, squaring off with No. 8 UConn (20-34, 5-16). USF dealt the Huskies a series sweep in the opening weekend of conference play.
 
Houston (35-19, 13-8) propelled into sole possession of second place with a series sweep of Memphis over the weekend, taking the No. 2 seed for the second-consecutive season. The Cougars will meet No. 7 seed ECU (23-31, 8-13) earlier in the day at 12:30 p.m. ET, having taken two of three games against the Pirates earlier in the spring.
 
In its first year as a member of The American, Wichita State (30-20, 12-9) is the No. 3 seed after earning a three-game sweep of No. 4 seed UCF (34-21, 12-9) during the conference circuit. The Shockers will open the tournament against the defending champions and No. 6 seed Tulsa (30-23, 10-11) at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, with the Knights taking on No. 5 Memphis (36-20, 10-11) at 4 p.m. ET.
 
For ticket information and full coverage of the American Athletic Conference Softball Championship, visit TheAmerican.org/Softball and follow @American_SBall on Twitter.
 
2018 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship
USF Softball Stadium – Tampa, Fla.
 
Quarterfinals – Thursday, May 10
American Digital Network
Game 1: No. 3 Wichita State vs. No. 6 Tulsa – 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT
Game 2: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 7 ECU – 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 p.m. CT
Game 3: No. 4 UCF vs. No. 5 Memphis – 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT
Game 4: No. 1 USF vs. No. 8 UConn – 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT
 
Semifinals – Friday, May 11
American Digital Network
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT
 
Championship – Saturday, May 12
ESPN2
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 – Noon ET/11 a.m. CT