LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
LINK – 2018 NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL REGION RANKINGS
A spring of frustration due to having its schedule change more than the Cleveland Browns change quarterbacks got a little better for Ashland University's softball team on Wednesday (April 18).
In the first NCAA Division II region rankings released on Wednesday, the Eagles (15-13) sit No. 9 in the Midwest Region. The top eight teams will play in two split regionals on May 10-12 at sites to be determined.
The second set of regional rankings will be released on April 25, and the third on May 2. The 2018 NCAA Division II postseason selection show will be May 7 at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.
Ashland is 15-13 overall and 5-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference going into a stretch of four consecutive days of doubleheaders away from Ashland, beginning on Thursday (April 19) at 3 p.m. vs. Purdue Northwest.
A 64-team field (the top eight teams from each of eight regions), the Division II softball tournament will begin on May 10 with 16 split regionals. The D-II national championships will be May 24-28 at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.
In the Midwest Region, automatic qualifiers come from the GLIAC, Great Lakes Valley Conference and Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The other five teams are chosen as at-large entries. There are 38 teams in the Midwest – nine in the GLIAC, 15 in the GLVC, 13 in the GMAC, and one independent (Oakland City).
Ashland is 20-26 all-time in the NCAA postseason, having qualified in 1996-99, 2002-03 and 2009-15.
2018 NCAA DIVISION II MIDWEST REGION RANKINGS
1. Grand Valley State
2. Illinois-Springfield
3. Indianapolis
4. McKendree
5. Missouri-St. Louis
6. Saginaw Valley State
7. Southern Indiana
8. Cedarville
9. ASHLAND
10. Ohio Dominican
AU
SB/DS