Hofstra, Stony Brook softball squads placed at same NCAA Tournament regional

Not only have the softball teams at Hofstra and Stony Brook qualified for the NCAA Tournament, both of Long Island's Division I squads are in the Columbia Regional at host Missouri. Pairings were released late Sunday.

Hofstra (43-11) meets Oregon State (33-22) Friday at 5 p.m., followed by Stony Brook (35-23) playing eighth-ranked Missouri (35-11) at 7:30 p.m. If both locals win or both lose they would meet in the second round on Saturday.

Hofstra is making its 14th appearance in the tournament. The Pride came within a game of making the Women's World Series last year. Senior pitcher Olivia Galati won three straight games to give Hofstra the Colonial Athletic Association title and an automatic bid.

Stony Brook upset Albany to win the America East title during a run in which the Seawolves won four straight elimination games. Sophomore pitcher Allison Cukrov was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after going 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA. Stony Brook first qualified for the NCAAs in 2008 and lost in the Tempe Regional to Arizona State and Mississippi State.

The winner of the four-team, double-elimination tournament advances to the Super Regionals.