COLLEGE SOFTBALL NCAA REGIONALS : Fernandez Plays Final Home Games

Top-seeded UCLA and second-seeded Cal State Northridge will play host to regional competition in the NCAA softball tournament, beginning today and Saturday.

The 20-team tournament at eight sites includes four three-team regionals and four two-team, double-elimination regionals.

UCLA (44-3) will play 15th-seeded Cal State Fullerton (37-19) at UCLA’s Sunset Field, beginning with a single game at 3 p.m. today. The Bruins and the Titans will play again Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., a doubleheader if necessary.

The series will mark the final home games for Lisa Fernandez, a UCLA senior pitcher-third baseman who leads the nation with a .507 batting average and is second nationally with an 0.26 earned-run average.

UCLA and Fullerton did not play during the regular season.

Northridge (45-6-1) will play 11th-seeded Fresno State (37-22) at Northridge’s Matador Diamond, beginning with a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Matadors and the Bulldogs will play again Sunday, a doubleheader if necessary, beginning at 1 p.m.

Northridge and Fresno State split four games during the regular season.

Seventh-seeded Cal State Long Beach (42-18) and 16th-seeded Cal State Sacramento (36-19) will play at ninth-seeded California (35-18), beginning today.

Regional winners will advance to the College World Series at Oklahoma City May 27-31.