A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME: OTAHKIANS TO GET 1ST TASTE OF NCAA TOURNAMENT

Kansas defeated Southeast Missouri State University 7-0 on March 19 during a tournament in Sacramento, Calif.

But the coaches of both softball teams believe that result will mean little when the squads square off at 6 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Regional in Tucson, Ariz.

"I think we caught them on a down day," said Kansas coach Tracy Bunge. "I think Lana (Richmond) would say they didn't play exceptionally well when we saw them in Sacramento. I know they'll play a lot better and we'll have to be ready."

Said Richmond, the Otahkians' coach, "I expect a much different game. I don't think that game will have any bearing on this one at all."

So the stage is set for the Otahkians' first-ever berth in the 48-team NCAA Division I Tournament. The game between second-seeded Kansas (29-28) and fifth-seeded Southeast (30-15) is one of three first-round matchups Thursday in the six-team regional hosted by Arizona.

Other first-round pairings have third-seeded Maryland (47-20) facing fourth-seeded Southwest Texas (34-29) at 3:30 p.m. and top-seeded Arizona (47-13) meeting sixth-seeded East Carolina (50-18) at 8:30 p.m.

The double-elimination event will continue through Sunday. If Southeast wins Thursday, it will play Friday at 3:30 p.m. If it loses Thursday, it will play Friday at 8:30 p.m.

The regional winner earns a berth in the eight-team Women's College World Series May 27-31 in Oklahoma City.

"We're really excited," said Richmond, whose squad is scheduled to fly out of St. Louis early this morning. "I feel like we got a great draw. I believe our first game is one we can win and I believe we can make some noise in the regional."

Kansas has had an up-and-down season, as evidenced by its so-so record. But the Jayhawks play in the rugged Big 12 Conference that sent seven teams to the NCAA tourney.

"We started out pretty well, then we went through a horrible five weeks, but we've been a new team since conference play started. So it's been a tale of three seasons," said Bunge. "We've had six freshmen starting throughout the year and that's been part of it, but those freshmen have been a big part of our team."

Kansas, which has been to the NCAA Tournament six times and appeared in the College World Series in 1992, bats just .241 as a team. The Jayhawks are led offensively by freshman outfielder Shelly Musser (.295), junior first baseman Shannon Stanwix (.268, eight home runs) and junior outfielder Christy McPhail (.267, four homers).

Pitching has been a strength of the Jayhawks, particularly junior right-hander Sarah Workman, who is 19-13 with a 1.29 earned-run average and 10 shutouts. She was on the mound when Kansas beat Southeast earlier.

"She basically threw our entire Big 12 Tournament," said Bunge of Workman. "She's very good."

Southeast is hitting .289 as a team, led by senior shortstop Jenny Oermann (.410), the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year. Also above .300 for the Otahkians are junior outfielder Kelsey White (.336), sophomore catcher Renee Enos (.333) and senior outfielder Anne Trieb (.302).

"I think it's an advantage for us to play Kansas the first round, having seen them before," said Oermann. "It's exciting to finally be in the NCAA Tournament."

The Otahkians have an impressive one-two pitching combo of seniors Christine Engelhardt (16-5, 1.41 ERA) and Debbie Schmelz (14-10, 1.83 ERA).

"I'm not sure who's going to pitch (against Kansas)," said Richmond. "Debbie threw against them last time and we'll probably use Christine to give them a new look. But I have a lot of confidence in both of them."

Southeast, which won its fifth straight OVC regular-season title and fourth consecutive OVC Tournament crown this year, has been on a roll, winning five straight games and 12 of its last 13. Richmond likes the way the Otahkians have been playing, although she doesn't like the 18-day layoff they will have had entering the regional.

"The layoff is a concern, but I feel like we've been playing very well and we've got a lot of confidence," she said.

Bunge also has confidence in her team. She just wants to make sure her players aren't overconfident after already having beaten Southeast.

"We can't overlook them. I don't think you can overlook any team in the tournament," she said. "I think everybody is a quality opponent at this regional site. We expect a very tough game."