May 27, 2002

With a 43-18 record, Florida Atlantic University was hoping that 43 wins would be enough to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals. The team found out Monday their season will continue in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. FAU will join host Alabama along with Southeast Missouri State and Auburn at the four-team regional, one of 16 nationwide.

FAU, the no. 3 seed, is familiar with one team in its regional, the host school and no.1 seed, Alabama. The two teams met March 3 at the Hormel Foods Classic in Minneapolis, Minnesota when the Crimson Tide defeated FAU 8-3.

Southeast Missouri State is the no. 4 seed entering the regional and will play Alabama on Friday while FAU will take on no. 2 Auburn at 1:30 pm, Friday. Florida Atlantic last played Auburn in 1998 when they dropped two contests to the Tigers.

Regional action begins Friday and continues through Sunday. The winner of each regional will advance to the Super Regionals, June 7-9 and eventually to the College World Series in Omaha, June 14-22.

FAU has had an exciting season thus far after holding the nation's longest winning streak at 27 games. FAU will be making its third trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last four years.

2002 Tuscaloosa Regional Bracket
Friday, May 31
Game 1--2:30 pm--no.2 Auburn (34-24) vs no. 3 Florida Atlantic (43-18)
Game 2-7:30 pm--no. 1 Alabama (48-13) vs no. 4 SE Missouri St. (36-18)

Saturday, June 1
Game 3-12:00 pm--Game 1 Loser vs Game 2 Loser
Game 4-4:00 pm--Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner
Game 5-8:00 pm--Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Loser

Sunday, June 2
Game 6-3:00 pm--Game 4 Winner vs Game 5 Winner
Game 7-If Necessary (45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 6)

Tickets for the three-day tournament are now on sale and may be purchased in tickets books through the Alabama Athletic Ticket Office in person or by calling (205) 348-2262. Ticket books are priced at $65 each for lower chairback seats, $55 for upper level grandstand and $50 for left field reserved bleachers. If available, individual game tickets will not be sold until Friday, May 31.

All fans are encouraged to purchase the Tuscaloosa Regional ticket books as soon as possible. Tickets will be available for pickup at the Athletic Ticket Office in Coleman Coliseum beginning Wednesday, May 29.

For hotel reservations please call Toby Wilson at the Hampton Inn, 205-553-9800.