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April 19, 2012

PBC Releases Softball Tournament Bracket

Bracket

COLUMBUS, GA – With the final games of the regular season finally in the books, the Peach Belt Conference released the bracket for the 2012 Tournament on Thursday night.  Armstrong Atlantic State will be the #1 seed for the tournament, which begins on Saturday at Cougar Field at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga.  The tournament format has changed from previous years with a single-elimination format that will feature four quarterfinal games on Saturday with the semifinals and championship on Sunday.

The Pirates earn the top spot in the PBC tournament for the first time in school history.  19-1 in conference play and 43-8 overall, Armstrong comes to the PBC with their first outright regular-season championship and a 17-game winning streak.  The Pirates have reached the PBC Tournament championship game three times in their history, but are still seeking their first title.  Armstrong will face eight-seeded Francis Marion on Saturday at 4:00 pm.  The Patriots had a busy final week of the season as weather forced them into playing eight conference games in five days.

North Georgia is the #2 seed for the PBC Tournament.  The three-time defending tournament and league champions come to Columbus red-hot after winning 13 straight including a sweep of Francis Marion on Thursday night.  The Saints were ranked #1 in the nation earlier this season and sit at #11 as they attempt to become only the second team ever to win four straight league tournaments.  North Georgia will face #7 Georgia College on in Saturday’s opening game at 11:00 am.  The Bobcats were the last non-North Georgia team to claim the tournament crown, winning in 2008.

Augusta State will be the third seed in the PBC Tournament.   The Jaguars reached the championship game for the second time in school history in 2011 and want to win their first crown in 2012.  Ranked as high as #15 nationally this season, ASU is 31-15 overall, 12-8 in the conference play and face off against their closest rival, sixth-seeded USC Aiken.  The two teams finished the regular season by splitting a doubleheader and the rivals meet in the first round of the PBC Tournament for the second time in three years.  USCA was 10-10 in conference play, 25-16 overall and ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Southeast Region poll.

Flagler is the #4 seed for the second year in a row and have never been seeded lower than fifth in any of their three PBC Tournaments since joining the league in 2009-10.  A tournament semifinalist last year, the Saints have been nationally ranked this season, climbing as high as 23rd.  Flagler will meet  the #5 seed and host Columbus State in Saturday’s  final game at 6:30.  The Cougars tied the PBC single-season team home run record with 64 long balls so far this year and have the top slugging percentage in the league.  CSU is hosting the PBC Tournament for the first time.

The action gets underway on Saturday at 11:00 am.  There is the possibility that weather could change the playing schedule, so fans are encouraged to keep up with the latest news from the tournament at the official website, located here.

2012 PBC Softball Tournament
April 21-22 • Hosted by Columbus State

Saturday, April 21
#2 North Georgia vs. #7 Georgia College    11:00 am
#3 Augusta State vs. #6 USC Aiken    1:30
#1 Armstrong vs. #8 Francis Marion    4:00
#5 Columbus State vs. #4 Flagler    6:30

Sunday, April 22
Semifinal #1    11:00 am
Semifinal #2    1:30
Championship Game    4:00