CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
HOUSTON, Texas – Following a hotly-contested regular season that came down to the wire, the 2019 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship is up for grabs this weekend at Cougar Softball Stadium. Beginning on Thursday, the single-elimination tournament will crown the sixth conference champion in league history and seal an automatic bid for the winner to the 2019 NCAA Division I Softball Championship.


 
The American boasts four teams in the top 55 of the RPI rankings and 10 wins over top-25 ranked opponents during the regular season, along with six additional wins against teams that were receiving votes. Collectively, tight competition across The American during the course of the season leaves this weekend’s Championship open for the taking.
 
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No. 1 USF (39-17, 17-4 American) is led by sophomore pitcher Georgina Corrick, who has an ERA under 1.00 this season (0.93) and has struck out 232 batters to lead the American. The Bulls have tallied 66 steals, the most in the conference this season, while also being the most defensively-sound team, having committed the fewest errors in The American.
 
No. 2 Tulsa (35-17, 16-5 American) enters the 2019 Championship as three-time defending tournament champions. The Golden Hurricane is led by senior Julia Hollingsworth at the plate, whose .425 average is the highest batting average in the league this season. Freshman Chenise Delce leads the Tulsa pitching staff and has also been a factor in at the plate.
 
No. 3 Houston (37-17, 12-8 American) hosts the action this weekend, and boasts The American’s top offense, leading the league in overall batting average and triples while tallying the second-most RBI in the league. Individually, Maya Thomas (.391), Sarah Barker (.376) and Arielle James (.371) have three of the top-five batting averages in the conference.
 
No. 4 Wichita State (31-24, 12-9 American) has flexed its muscles this season and is no stranger to the long ball, tallying 50 home runs to lead The American. The team drove in a league-best 254 runs and is also among the league’s best in doubles (74) and triples (9).
 
No. 5 UCF (34-20, 11-10 American) is led by junior pitcher Alea White and senior catcher Cassady Brewer. White became the fifth pitcher in American history to reach the 50 career win mark earlier this season. Brewer has started every game for UCF this season and is among the Knights’ leaders in nearly every offensive category.
 
No. 6 UConn (21-29, 8-13 American) won its most conference games in team history this season, and has done it with its offense. Sophomores Briana Marcelino (.359 average, nine doubles, eight homers) and Reese Guevarra (.333 average, seven doubles, five homers) lead the Huskies offensively, while in the circle sophomore Marybeth Olson leads the team in both wins (11) and ERA (2.18).
 
No. 7 ECU (22-31, 4-17 American) sits in the top portion of the league in several offensive categories, with Tate McClellan among the league’s home run leaders (10 homers) and Tyler King among the top base-stealers in the conference with 15 bags swiped.
 
No. 8 Memphis (22-32, 3-17 American) sits in the upper half of The American in nearly every team offensive category this season. Sophomore Baylee Smith leads the way at the plate with a .344 average and 22 extra base hits, and is in the top-five in the league in total bases this season.
 
All quarterfinal and semifinal contests of the American Softball Championship will be available live on the American Digital Network on Facebook (facebook.com/americandigitalnetworkplus). The championship will air at noon ET on ESPN2 on Saturday, May 11. For all live updates and ticket information, visit TheAmerican.org/Softball and follow @American_SBall on Twitter.
 
 
2019 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship
Cougar Softball Stadium | Houston, Texas
 
Quarterfinals – Thursday, May 9
American Digital Network
Game 1: No. 1 USF vs. No. 8 Memphis – 10:05 a.m. ET/9:05 a.m. CT
Game 2: No. 4 Wichita State vs. No. 5 UCF – 37 minutes following the conclusion of Game 1
Game 3: No. 2 Tulsa vs. No. 7 ECU - 37 minutes following the conclusion of Game 2
Game 4: No. 3 Houston vs. No. 6 UConn - 37 minutes following the conclusion of Game 3
 
Semifinals – Friday, May 10
American Digital Network
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT
 
Championship – Saturday, May 11
ESPN2
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT