Bethune-Cookman will face fourth-seeded Florida in the opening round of the Gainesville Regional of the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament Friday evening at 6 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman (33-24) defeated Delaware State 5-4 in the MEAC tournament championship game Sunday morning. It was the second consecutive MEAC title and sixth overall to earn an NCAA automatic bid. The Wildcats finished regular season play with an unblemished 12-0 southern divisional record and entered tournament play as the top seed.  

It's B-CU's second trip to Gainesville in as many years and third in its NCAA post-season history. Last year, the Wildcats fell to Florida and FIU in their first regional appearance since the 2005 team defeated the Gators and South Florida twice to advance to the Super Regional.

UCLA and Jacksonville are also in the Gainesville Regional and will meet in the opening game of the double-elimination tournament at 3:30 p.m.