ESPN Provides Most Extensive Coverage of NCAA Division I Softball Championship
Schedule Includes Expanded Exposure at Regional Sites on ESPN3.com
Schedule Includes Expanded Exposure at Regional Sites on ESPN3.com
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to provide the most extensive NCAA Division I Softball Championship coverage to date with up to 69 games Friday, May 20-Wednesday, June 8, an increase from the scheduled 55 last year. The lineup will feature all games from four Regional sites, two more sites than last year with the addition of ESPN3.com’s exclusive coverage; every game from each of the eight Super Regional sites for the third straight year; and every NCAA Women’s College World Series contest for the 10th straight championship.
For the first time all games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will be televised in high definition and simulcast on ESPN3.com, while ESPN Mobile TV will offer select games throughout the championship.
Action will begin Friday, May 20, with eight telecasts from four sites – Ann Arbor, Mich., Gainesville, Fla., Knoxville, Tenn., and Tempe, Ariz. Games from Ann Arbor will include Kentucky vs. Notre Dame on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET and Western Michigan vs. No. 10 seed Michigan at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The games from Tempe will air on ESPNU and include San Diego State vs. Long Beach State at 5:30 p.m. and North Dakota State vs. No. 1 seed Arizona State at 8 p.m. All four games will also be simulcast on ESPN3.com
ESPN3.com will offer doubleheaders from Gainesville and Knoxville exclusively: Gainesville – Jacksonville vs. UCLA at 3:30 p.m. and Bethune-Cookman vs. No. 4 seed Florida at 6 p.m.; Knoxville – Georgia Tech vs. Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. and Liberty vs. No. 14 seed Tennessee at 6:30 p.m.
Additional Highlights:
- A record 69 scheduled games will be offered across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com, including 28 from four Regional sites, all 24 from the Super Regionals, as well as all 17 from the NCAA Women’s College World Series.
- ESPNU HD will televise the complete best-of-seven Regional series from Tempe featuring top-seeded Arizona State, while ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will combine to cover the Regional series from Ann Arbor showcasing No. 10 seed Michigan;
- For the first time, ESPN3.com will have exclusive coverage of two best-of-seven Regional sites – from Gainesville featuring No. 4 seed Florida and from Knoxville highlighting No. 14 seed Tennessee;
- ESPN3.com will simulcast every ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU telecast – marking the first time the broadband network will offer each game;
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to televise every game from the eight best-of-three Super Regional series Thursday-Sunday, May 26-29. The Super Regional winners will advance to the Women’s College World Series;
- ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise every NCAA Women’s College World Series game Thursday-Wednesday, June 2-8. It will mark ESPN’s 30th consecutive year covering the event;
- ESPN Mobile TV will simulcast a total of 25 games.
- The networks will use two announce teams on the NCAA Women’s College World Series, each featuring U.S. Olympic Gold Medal winners as analysts. Beth Mowins will call play-by-play with analyst Jessica Mendoza, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist. Pam Ward will call play-by-play with analyst Michele Smith, a two-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (1996 & 2000). Holly Rowe will serve as the field reporter on every telecast.
- The Regional telecasts will feature Mowins and Mendoza working games from the Ann Arbor series and play-by-play announcer Cara Capuano calling games with Smith from Tempe. The Super Regional commentators will be announced at a later date.
- ESPN International will provide coverage of the NCAA Women’s College World Series Finals and select early-round games in 170 countries and territories on ESPN Latin America, ESPN Europe, ESPN Pacific Rim, ESPN Australia, ESPN Africa, ESPN Middle East, ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Brazil.
NCAA Division I Softball Championship – Regionals Presented by Capital One (ESPN3.com links go directly to scheduled game)
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 20 | 3:30 p.m. | Jacksonville vs. UCLA
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 1 | ESPN3.com |
| 4 p.m. | Georgia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 1 | ESPN3.com | |
| 5:30 p.m. | San Diego State vs. Long Beach State (Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 1 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Kentucky vs. Notre Dame
(Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 1 | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 6 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman vs.
No. 4 Florida (Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 2 | ESPN3.com | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Liberty vs. No. 14 Tennessee
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 2 | ESPN3.com | |
| 8 p.m. | North Dakota State vs.
No. 1 Arizona State (Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 2 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 8 p.m. | Western Michigan vs.
No. 10 Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 2 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| Sat, May 21 | Noon | Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
(Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 3 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 1 p.m. | Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 3 | ESPN3.com | |
| 2 p.m. | Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 3 | ESPN3.com | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
(Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 4 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 4 | ESPN3.com | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 4 | ESPN3.com | |
| 5 p.m. | Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner
(Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 5 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 6 p.m. | Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 3 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 6 p.m. | Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 5 | ESPN3.com | |
| 7 p.m. | Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 5 | ESPN3.com | |
| 8:30 p.m. | Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 4 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 11 p.m. | Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 5 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| Sun, May 22 | 1 p.m. | Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
(Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 6 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com |
| 1 p.m. | Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 6 | ESPN3.com | |
| 2 p.m. | Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 6 | ESPN3.com | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser
(Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza
|
Game 7* | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Ben Holden & Amanda Scarborough
|
Game 7* | ESPN3.com | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser
(Knoxville, Tenn.)
Dan Parkhurst & Amanda Freed
|
Game 7* | ESPN3.com | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 6 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
|
|
| 8 p.m. | Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Cara Capuano & Michele Smith
|
Game 7* | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com |
* – If necessary
NCAA Division I Softball Championship – Super Regionals Presented by Capital One (ESPN3.com links go directly to scheduled game)
(Note: Commentator assignments TBD)
(Note: Commentator assignments TBD)
| Date | Time (ET) | Site | Game | Network |
| Thu, May 26 | 8 p.m. | Site 1 | Game 1 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 10 p.m. | Site 5 | Game 1 | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| Fri, May 27 | 2 p.m. | Site 2 | Game 1 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com |
| 4:30 p.m. | Site 1 | Game 2 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 7 p.m.^ | Site 1 | Game 3* | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 7 p.m. | Site 3 | Game 1 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 9 p.m. | Site 5 | Game 2 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 11:30 p.m. | Site 5 | Game 3* | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 11:30 p.m. | Site 4 | Game 1 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| Sat, May 28 | Noon | Site 2 | Game 2 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| Noon | Site 6 | Game 1 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Site 2 | Game 3* | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Site 3 | Game 2 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 5 p.m. | Site 4 | Game 2 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 5 p.m. | Site 3 | Game 3* | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Site 4 | Game 3* | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Site 8 | Game 1 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 9 p.m. | Site 7 | Game 1 | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| Sun, May 29 | 1 p.m. % | Site 6 | Game 2 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 1 p.m.% | Site 8 | Game 2 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 3:30 p.m. % | Site 6 | Game 3* | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 3:30 p.m.% | Site 8 | Game 3* | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Site 7 | Game 2 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 6 p.m. | Site 7 | Game 3* | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com |
If there is no NBA Western Conf. Finals Game 7, the schedule for May 29 sites 6, 7 & 8 will be:
| Sun, May 29 | 1 p.m. | Site 6 | Game 2 | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 3:30 p.m. | Site 8 | Game 2 | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Site 6 | Game 3* | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 6 p.m. | Site 8 | Game 3* | ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 7 p.m. | Site 7 | Game 2 | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Site 7 | Game 3* | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com |
* – If necessary; ^ – Network subject to change; % – ESPN will showcase games within one window and “whip-around” to the best action from those games in most of the nation. Viewers in the home markets of the competing teams will receive their local game in its entirety with constant updates from the other games.
NCAA Women’s College World Series Presented by Capital One (ESPN3.com links go directly to scheduled game)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Commentators | Networks |
| Thu, June 2 | 1 p.m. | Game 1 | Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 2 | Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
|
| 7 p.m. | Game 3 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
|
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 4 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
|
| Fri, June 3 | 7 p.m. | Game 5 | Pam Ward, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 6 | Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| Sat, June 4 | Noon | Game 7 | Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 2:30 p.m. | Game 8 | Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 7 p.m. | Game 9 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
|
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 10 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
|
| Sun, June 5 | 1 p.m. | Game 11 | Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 12 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile | |
| 7 p.m. | Game 13* | Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 14* | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com | |
| Mon, June 6 | 8 p.m. | Championship – Game 1 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com |
| Tue, June 7 | 8 p.m. | Championship – Game 2 | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /
ESPN Mobile
|
| Wed, June 8 | 8 p.m. | Championship – Game 3* | Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe | ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com |
* – If necessary
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