ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (May 13) - Defending champion Bethune-Cookman crushed Howard University, 17-0 in a weather delayed elimination game Friday evening, punching a ticket to Saturday's championship round of the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Tournament here at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

B-CU (31-24) will face Delaware State (32-17) in the 1:00 p.m. title game Saturday, needing to win twice to defend their title. A second and deciding game, if needed, will be played at 3:30 p.m.

DelState, the tournament's remaining unbeaten team, edged the Lady Wildcats, 2-1 in the winner's bracket finale Friday afternoon....

Friday's evening finale was the second tournament meeting for B-CU and Howard University (20-25), with the Lady Cats sweeping both games by a combined 25 runs, after winning their tourney opener against the Lady Bison, 8-0 on Thursday morning.

The day began at 10:00 am. with two elimination round games, both resulting in shutouts, as Coppin State survived a 1-0 nail-biter to eliminate Norfolk State, while nine-time champion Florida A&M was ousted by Howard University, 7-0.

Howard prevailed over Coppin State in a 10-inning thriller, 1-0 in the 3:00 p.m. eliminator to advance to the 6:00 Day Two finale.

2011 MEAC TOURNAMENT UPDATE/Friday/Day Two
Elimination Games - 10:00 a.m.
-Coppin State 1, Norfolk State 0 (NSU eliminated)
-Howard 7, Florida A&M 0 (FAMU eliminated)

Winner's Bracket Final - 1:00 p.m.
1:00 - Delaware State 2, Bethune-Cookman 1

Elimination Games - Afternoon Schedule
3:00 - Howard 1, Coppin State 0, 10 innings (Coppin eliminated)
6:00 - Bethune-Cookman 17, Howard 0 (Howard eliminated)

Saturday - Championship Round
1:00 - Delaware State (32-17) v. Bethune-Cookman (31-24)
3:30 - 2nd and Deciding Game (if Necessary)

@ AWARDS CEREMONY TO BE HELD IMMEDIATELY AFTER FINAL GAME
@ WINNER RECEIVES AUTOMATIC NCAA REGIONAL BID

Written and Provided by Alvin Hollins, Jr.