INDIANAPOLIS | After advancing to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship and recording a RPI of 33, South Alabama earned an at-large selection to the 2024 NCAA Championship where it will compete at the Gainesville Regional in Gainesville, Fla. 

The appearance marks the sixth in program history and the first for the Jaguars since competing at the Gainesville Regional during the 2021 postseason. 

The Jags (32-18-1) – the two seed at the site – will open up play at the regional hosted by Florida – the No. 4 overall national seed – on Friday versus Florida Atlantic (41-14) who is the second seed at the regional at 1:30 p.m. (CT) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Also in the regional is the host Gators (46-12) who will take on fourth-seeded Florida Gulf Coast (37-19).

The Gainesville Regional is paired with the Lafayette Regional, which includes fellow Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana, Baylor, Ole Miss and Princeton.

The University of Florida Ticket Office will have all-session passes on sale to the general public beginning Monday, May 13 at 5 p.m. (CT). All Session Pricing: Reserved Seating: $60 per seat and General Admission (Plaza/Berm): $30 per seat.

Mobile ticketing is required at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. There will be two ways to access your tickets: 1) through the Florida Gators app from your mobile device or 2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate your tickets easily within the app or online. For a smoother entry on game-day, fans are encouraged to add their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay account.

After being left out of the tournament a season ago, the Jaguars were rewarded for their tough non-conference schedule, which ranked as one of the Top-10 toughest nationally.   

Of its 51 games, nine came against opponents who currently hold an RPI higher than the Jaguars. In those contests, the Jags picked up five of their wins; road wins over Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, South Carolina, a home win over Texas State, as well as a tie over Arizona back in early March. 

The five wins over ranked opponents are tied for third most in program history (2021 and 2014). Of South's 18 losses, eight have been a single run and 12 have been by three runs or less. The 32 total wins mark the 11th time that USA has eclipsed the 30-win plateau.

The Jaguars are led in the circle by first-team all-Sun Belt selection Olivia Lackie – the program's first four-time first-team honoree – who has recorded 23 wins in the circle, and who is either tied for or holds sole possession of first in earned run average (1.42), opposing batting average (.175), and strikeouts (217) in her 226.2 innings of work.

At the plate, Mackenzie Brasher – also a first-team, all-league selection – leads the team with a .311 batting average and 26 steals, while freshman Olivia Branstetter is right behind her in hitting with a .310 average. Gabby Stagner (.301) leads the team in RBI (44), doubles (14), extra-base hits (32) and her team-best 15 home runs in 2024 set a new single-season mark at South.

Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On her thoughts on receiving the at-large bid: "I'm super excited for our players and our staff. The amount of work that has gone into this year, the ups and downs and fighting through different things has been a lot, and to see everyone rewarded with this is a big deal. It's amazing to represent the Sun Belt Conference, represent the University of South Alabama, and to have this opportunity is really cool."

- On the team really 'earning' this bid: "They have absolutely earned this bid. A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into this season, and it was the toughest non-conference schedule that we've ever had in program history, which is saying a lot because we've always scheduled hard. Our non-conference schedule was ranked in the Top 10, and to see what they've done with it and how they've been able to work through it has been impressive. I'm really happy that they get to have this experience."

Senior P Olivia Lackie
- On what it means to her for the team to receive the at-large bid: "I feel it means so much to us, especially because my freshman year we started in a regional in Gainesville, and we are returning there for my senior year."

- On the anticipation of waiting to see South Alabama's name called: "The whole time my heart was racing. Ever since Saturday and leading up to today, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that we were going to get in, it was just a question about where. When they said 'The Jaguars', I was out of my chair before they even said 'South Alabama'. It was an awesome feeling."

Graduate Senior OF Mackenzie Brasher
- On the feeling of getting into the tournament: "It's very exciting. I'm excited for this team. We're a really special team. The feeling (of hearing your name called) is like no other. The younger players on our team get to experience the tournament. It's my second time playing, and this time we're trying to take it all the way."

- On what this team has done to put itself in this position: "We've had a lot of big wins. We've dug in and gritted it out whenever things weren't going well for us, which is one of the things that makes this team special. We've had a great season, so its time for us to keep rolling and see what we can do with it."

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