For the first time since 2010, Stetson University will host the 2018 ASUN Softball Championship this week at Patricia Wilson Field.

The sixth-seeded Hatters (26-23) will host the third-seeded USC Upstate Spartans (31-17) at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the first game of the tournament.  The winner will advance to play second-seeded FGCU (38-15) at 10 a.m. Thursday. The non-advancing team will move to the lower bracket for an elimination game, also on Thursday.

Regular season champion Kennesaw State (36-15) is the No. 1 seed, while Lipscomb (32-15) is the 4 seed and Jacksonville (26-27) is the 5 seed.

Tournament passes are $35 for reserved seats and $25 for general admission and can be purchased online at GoHatters.com/tix.  Single day passes are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission. ASUN students are admitted free with a school ID.

The championship game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday with the winner earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

All games from the tournament will be broadcast live on subscription-based ESPN+ with Evan Weston and Scott Whitlock calling the action.

USC Upstate leads the all-time series 24-7 vs. Stetson, including a 2-1 mark in postseason play. The Hatters and Spartans will be meeting in the ASUN tournament for the first time since 2013. The two teams have combined to win the last five ASUN Championships (Upstate 4, Stetson 1).

• Stetson has won the ASUN Championship five times – in 1986, 1987, 1988, 2007, and 2014.
• Patricia Wilson Field has hosted the ASUN Championship four times – in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
• The Hatters are 60-50 (.545) all-time in the ASUN tournament, and they will be making their 29th appearance.
• The last team to win an ASUN Championship on its home field was Stetson in 2007.
• Stetson went 24-11 at home this season.
• Head coach Frank Griffin has 950 wins in his career.

-GoHatters.com