PROVIDENCE, R.I. -The NCAA Division III Softball Committee recently announced Rhode Island College will serve as one of the eight predetermined first-round sites for the 2008 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The championship field will be announced on Sunday, May 4, assigning teams to either a seven or eight-team regional field.

The seven-team first rounds will be held May 8-11, and the eight-team first-rounds will be held May 8-12. All first-round sites will use a double-elimination format. Each of the eight first-round winners will advance to the National Championship Round, hosted by the City of Salem, Virginia and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex from May 16-20.

The Dayna A. Bazar Softball Facility is comprised of a skinned, clay infield and natural grass outfield with covered Home and Visitor dugouts. The field is enclosed by an eight-foot fence with dimensions of 200' down the right field line, 225' to center field and 200' down the left field line. Two warm-up bullpen areas are available to the teams. Ample bleacher seating is located behind home plate and down the left field line.

Tickets prices are $5 for general admission and $2 for seniors and students with a valid ID from any of the participating institutions. Admission is credited for all games on the day of purchase.

Fans unable to make the trip to Providence, R.I. can follow all the action live on the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championship Page. The Rhode Island College athletics department will be featuring live streaming video and real-time statistics throughout the tournament.

The eight first-round hosts and sites are:

Augustana College (Illinois) - Rock Island, Illinois
Ithaca College - Ithaca, New York
Methodist University - Fayetteville, North Carolina
Plattsburgh State University of New York - Plattsburgh, New York
Rhode Island College - Providence, Rhode Island
Rowan University - Glassboro, New Jersey
University of Texas at Tyler - Tyler, Texas
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire - Eau Claire, Wisconsin