LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
The first set of NCAA Division II regional softball rankings was revealed on Wednesday (April 17) afternoon, and Ashland University's softball team sits at No. 8 in the Midwest Region.
At 24-16 overall and 10-10 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Eagles will face regional rival Ohio Dominican, sitting at No. 7 in the region, on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader in Columbus. Ashland has 14 regular-season games scheduled prior to the 2019 GLIAC Tournament, May 3-5 at Sports Force Park in Sandusky, Ohio.
Through Tuesday (April 16), the Eagles are 4-3 against the other teams in the top 10 of the first Midwest rankings.
The second set of D-II regional rankings will be released on April 24, and the third on May 1. The NCAA Division II softball tournament selection show will be May 6 at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.
Eight teams from each of eight regions will make up the 64-team NCAA tournament. Each region will have two split regionals, to be played May 9-11, followed by a super regional May 16-17. The NCAA Division II Championships will be May 23-27 at Regency Athletic Complex in Denver, Colo.
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, 14 in the GLVC, 14 in the GMAC, and one independent (Oakland City). Davenport and Purdue Northwest are ineligible for postseason play, as they are in a candidacy/provisional year.
Ashland is 20-26 all-time in the NCAA postseason, having qualified in 1996-99, 2002-03 and 2009-15.
AU
SB/DS