Charleston, S.C. The pairings for the 2008 Bennett Hofford Family of Hotels Southern Conference Tournament were officially set Saturday night as the regular season came to a close. The Citadel, having finished eighth in the SoCon this season, will face ninth-seeded Wofford in the second opening round game on Tuesday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m. at Riley Park. The Citadel is hosting the SoCon Tournament for the 19th consecutive season.
The winner between the Bulldogs and the Terriers will advance to face top-seeded Elon in game three while the loser on Tuesday will be eliminated. Game three is scheduled to be played at 5 p.m. but would be changed to an 8 p.m. start should The Citadel win. As tournament host, game times will be adjusted to permit The Citadel to play the late game each day as long as the Bulldogs remain in the winner's bracket.
The Bulldogs and the Terriers have only met twice before in the SoCon Tournament, with both meetings coming as Wofford wins in the 2007 tournament. Wofford beat The Citadel 6-2 to hand the Bulldogs their first loss three rounds into the double-elimination tournament. After The Citadel rebounded with a 5-2 win to oust Elon, The Citadel and Wofford faced each other again in the championship game with Wofford winning the school's first-ever SoCon Championship in any sport with a 4-2 victory.
The Citadel won the regular season series against the Terriers with a 6-2 win in Spartanburg on April 5 and an 18-2 rout in the first game of a doubleheader on April 6. In the second game of the doubleheader on April 6, The Citadel dropped a 6-5 decision in 10 innings as Wofford prevented a series sweep for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs and the Terriers will face each other in the second opening round game at approximately 3:30 p.m. or immediately following the first opening round game between No. 7 Western Carolina and No. 10 Davidson. The two opening round games are single elimination.
The 2008 tournament features a double-elimination format. Play begins on Tuesday, May 20 and features a two-bracket system this season. The two winners of the brackets will meet on Sunday, May 25 for the championship game at 2 p.m., which will be televised on tape delay on SportSouth at 5 p.m.
Play on Wednesday, May 21 will kick-off at 10 a.m. with either Western Carolina or Davidson facing second-seeded College of Charleston followed by No. 3 Furman and No. 6 Appalachian State playing at 1 p.m. No. 4 Georgia Southern will play No. 5 UNC Greensboro at 5 p.m. should The Citadel win or at 8 p.m. should Wofford win.
Tickets for the 2008 SoCon Tournament are $10 per day or $30 for the entire tournament and can be purchased at The Citadel Ticket Office at McAlister Field House or by calling (843) 953-DOGS. Fans may also purchase tickets at the gates of Riley Park.
For complete coverage of the 2008 SoCon Tournament, visit the SoCon Tournament Central page on CitadelSports.com. For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, visit the official home of The Citadel Athletics at CitadelSports.com.
May 20 (Tuesday)
Opening Round
Noon: No. 7 Western Carolina vs. No. 10 Davidson
3:30 p.m.: No. 8 The Citadel vs. No. 9 Wofford
May 21 (Wednesday)
First Round
Game 1 at 10 a.m.: Appalachian State/Davidson winner vs. No. 2 College of Charleston
Game 2 at 1 p.m.: No. 6 Appalachian State vs. No. 3 Furman
Game 3 at 5 or 8 p.m.: The Citadel/Wofford winner vs. No. 1 Elon
Game 4 at 5 or 8 p.m.: No. 5 UNC Greensboro vs. No. 4 Georgia Southern
May 22 (Thursday)
Second Round
Game 5 at 10 a.m.: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 6 at 1 p.m.: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
Game 7 at 5 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 8at 8 p.m.: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
May 23 (Friday)
Quarterfinals
Game 9 at 3 p.m.: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 5
Game 10 at 6:30 p.m.: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 6
May 24 (Saturday)
Semifinals
Game 11 at 10 a.m.: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9
Game 12 at 1 p.m.: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10
Game 13 (if necessary) at 5 p.m.: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11
Game 14 (if necessary at 8 p.m.: Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12
May 25 (Sunday)
2 p.m.: SoCon Tournament Championship
