The Missouri Western softball team found itself ranked 6th in the second NCAA Central regional ranking, unveiled late Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA Division II softball committee.

The Griffons (31-15), who last qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2012, were one of four Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association teams to sit atop the Central region. In a region comprised of teams from the MIAA, Great America Conference, and the and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Griffons sit ahead of Southeastern Oklahoma State (7th), Fort Hays State (8th), Southern Arkansas (9th) and East Central (10th). Emporia State leads the way while Winona State sits No. 2. Minnesota State, Augustana (S.D.) and Central Oklahoma came in 3rd-5th respectively.

The top eight teams qualify for the NCAA Central regional, which will begin on May 9 at two campus sites. Seeds one, four, five, and eight will compete at one site in a double-elimination format, while seeds two, three, six, and seven will do the same at a second site. Each sub-regional winner will advance to the Central super-regional the following weekend for a best-of-three showdown, with the advancing team moving on to the NCAA Div. II College World Series – held in Salem, Va., from May 22-26.

The NCAA will release its second of three weekly polls next Wednesday (April 23), with a final regular season release coming on Wednesday, April 30. The selection show will take place on Monday, May 5.

Under the direction of head coach Jen Bagley, the Griffons will take on Northeastern State on Friday, April 24 in St. Joseph, Mo. Game time is set for 4 pm. They will round out the season on Saturday, April 25th with a doubleheader against Central Oklahoma beginning at noon. The Griffons will honor four seniors who will be playing their last home regular season games of their career. They are Kat Steponovich, Jackie Bishop, Michelle Stevenson and Taylor Anding.

— MWSU Sports Information —