ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team held at No. 6 in the NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings this week.

With last week off, the Griffons held steady at No. 6 and stayed in position to return to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. The top eight teams in the final rankings head on to NCAA postseason play. Missouri Western missed the regional last year for the first time since 2013. The new No. 1 team in the nation, Central Oklahoma held the top spot in the regional rankings followed by Winona State, Augustana (S.D.), Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas. Central Missouri was the other MIAA representative in the rankings, coming in at No. 8 this week.

The Griffons host Washburn and Emporia State to close out the regular season this weekend. The games come with MIAA Championships seeding implications and more. The Griffons are still mathematically in contention for the regular season MIAA title, but would need some help sitting three games back of Central Oklahoma. Washburn will enter St. Joseph tied for third in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri, two games behind the second-place Griffons. Emporia State begins the weekend tied for fifth in the standings, three games back of the two tied for third place.

Friday’s games with Washburn will be part of the Second Annual Teal Games. On Saturday, the team will recognize its seven seniors following the doubleheader against Emporia State.

— MWSU Athletics —