LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL PAGE
Ashland University's softball team's quest to make it back to the NCAA Division II postseason for the first time in four years got a boost following Wednesday's (April 24) release of the second set of Midwest Region rankings.
The Eagles moved up two spots to No. 6 in the Midwest Region on Wednesday, tied with Missouri-St. Louis (from No. 5 to No. 3) for the biggest one-week improvement in the region. Ashland is 31-19 overall and 16-12 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic with two regular-season doubleheaders and the 2019 GLIAC Tournament remaining prior to a potential postseason appearance.
So far this spring against other teams in the Midwest Region Top 10, Ashland's record is 6-7.
Wednesday's rankings release did not factor in Ashland's 3-1 start to this week, a split at Ferris State on Monday (April 22) and a sweep at home vs. Parkside on Tuesday (April 23).
The first set of D-II regional rankings were released on April 17, and the third set will be revealed 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.
2019 NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL MIDWEST REGION RANKINGS
|
TEAM |
SECOND RANKING |
FIRST RANKING |
|
Grand Valley State |
1 |
1 |
|
Indianapolis |
2 |
2 |
|
Missouri-St. Louis |
3 |
5 |
|
Southern Indiana |
4 |
3 |
|
Wayne State |
5 |
4 |
|
ASHLAND |
6 |
8 |
|
Illinois-Springfield |
7 |
6 |
|
Ohio Dominican |
8 |
7 |
|
Trevecca Nazarene |
9 |
9 |
|
Truman |
10 |
N/A |
|
Drury |
N/A |
10 |
AU
SB/DS