UK Softball will host an NCAA Tournament regional for the second consecutive year, earning the 14th overall seed in the bracket released by the NCAA on Sunday.

The Cats will host 2-seed James Madison (44-13), 3-seed DePaul (41-9) and 4-seed Ohio (32-24) in the Lexington Regional, which will be played in a double-elimination format. UK will face Ohio in the first round at 7:30 p.m. Friday at John Cropp Stadium. James Madison and DePaul will play in the other first round matchup.

“For Kentucky to be able to host a NCAA Regional for the second consecutive season, speaks to the hard work and dedication from our student-athletes, coaches and administration,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said in a UK Athletics press release. “We will host some really good teams this weekend at John Cropp Stadium and we will need the Big Blue Nation to come out in full force to help create a home-field advantage.”

UK won the Lexington Regional last season, defeating Marshall once and Virginia Tech twice in rout to advancing to the Super Regionals. The Cats fell in two games against Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona.

UK won three games in the SEC Tournament, falling 5-2 to Georgia in the championship game. The Cats won 44 games in the regular season, a school record.

STAFF REPORT

Friday, May 16

Game 1 — James Madison vs. DePaul – 5 p.m.

Game 2 — UK vs. Ohio – 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday, May 17

Game 3 — Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 1 p.m.

Game 4 — Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Game 5 — Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 18

Game 6 — Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 -1 p.m.

Game 7 — (If necessary) — 3:30 p.m.