2021 Softball
Lady Panthers to face West Chester in Opening Round of NCAA DII Atlantic Regional

Softball Romanda Noble-Watson, SID

Claflin to Face West Chester in Opening Round of the NCAA Division II Softball Atlantic Regionals

Orangeburg, SC—For the second time in school history, the Claflin University softball team will make an appearance in the Atlantic Regional of the NCAA Division II Softball Championships.  The sixth-seeded Lady Panthers will face the No. 3 West Chester on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. (EST) in the opening round. The six-team, double-elimination tournament will be played Wednesday-Saturday (May 19-22) at North Campus Field in Kutztown, Pa.
 
If Claflin wins its opening game, they will face No. 2 Shepard University, which received an opening-round bye, on Thursday, May 20 at 12:30 pm.  If the Lady Panthers lose to West Chester, they will face the loser of the No. 4 East Stroudsburg and No.5 West Liberty contest at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. 
 
Claflin received the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) automatic bid into the tournament. The CIAA did not host a Softball Championship this season due to COVID-19.    A special format was used to determine which team would receive the conference's automatic bid. 
 
The Lady Panthers will be the only NCAA Division II HBCU team participating in this year's tournament.
 
"We are excited to have the opportunity to play West Chester," head coach James "Marty" Kinard said. "When you think of the Atlantic region and its history, West Chester is one of the teams that come to mind. They have played well as of late, winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Championship and doing a lot of things on the offensive side of the ball that can create problems. But we will be prepared for them." 
 
"This is truly an exciting time for Claflin University Athletics," said Tony O'Neal, director of athletics at Claflin.  "I am pleased with the team's accomplishments and the commitment of the entire athletic department.  We now have a chance to compete for a national championship."
 
Claflin made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship in 2017 when it won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament.  The Lady Panthers earned an automatic berth to the South Regional.
 
Claflin will enter the tournament after playing only nine games, the fewest number of games among the teams in the regional tournament.  The Lady Panthers have an 8-1 record and West Chester is 30-14.  
 
"The number of games we played is not as much of a concern as the month-long layoff since playing our last game," Kinard said. "But after that first pitch, we will be ready to go.  This group has the experience and knows what it takes to win at the highest level."
 
Live coverage links will be posted on the softball schedule link on the Claflin athletics website prior to game time.
 
Print Friendly Version