HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team received a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament on Monday, and the Norse will face West Virginia Wesleyan College at 10 a.m. this Thursday in the first round at Allendale, Mich.
NKU, which enters the NCAA Tournament with a 35-15 record, is the No. 5 seed in the double-elimination Great Lakes Regional Tournament. West Virginia Wesleyan (45-8) is the No. 4 seed in the Great Lakes Regional, which is being hosted by top-seeded Grand Valley State University (46-4).
This is the second straight year that NKU has earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
If NKU defeats West Virginia Wesleyan, the Norse will face Grand Valley State in the second round at 3 p.m. Thursday. Grand Valley State received a first-round bye in the Great Lakes Regional.
NKU played Grand Valley State earlier this season and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Lakers at Battle Creek, Mich.
Wayne (Mich.) State University is the No. 2 seed and will meet the winner of the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville/Ashland University first-round game. SIUE is the No. 3 seed, and Ashland is the No. 6 seed.
A total of 48 teams were selected for the NCAA Division II Tournament. The winners of the eight regionals will advance to the national finals, which will be held May 15-19 at the Wallace Sports Complex in Salem, Ore.
NCAA Tournament
SITES/PAIRINGS
*Host Institution
Northeast Region at Syracuse, N.Y.
1. *Le Moyne - 43-8
2. C.W. Post - 34-10
3. American International - 33-14
4. Adelphi - 32-15
5. Queens (N.Y.) - 28-15
6. Massachusetts-Lowell - 28-16-1
Mid-Atlantic Region at Shippensburg, Pa.
1. *Shippensburg - 33-12
2. Bloomsburg - 35-11
3. California (Pa.) - 24-6
4. Kutztown - 21-16
5. Indiana (Pa.) - 25-16
6. Shaw - 30-12
Great Lakes Region at Allendale, Mich.
1. *Grand Valley State - 46-4
2. Wayne State (Michigan) - 36-12
3. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville - 43-9
4. West Virginia Wesleyan - 45-8
5. Northern Kentucky - 35-15
6. Ashland - 38-16
South Central Region at San Antonio, Texas
1. *St. Mary's (Texas) - 45-10
2. Angelo State - 47-8
3. Tarleton State - 39-18
4. Southeastern Oklahoma State - 43-13
5. Texas A&M-Kingsville - 32-19
6. Fort Hays State - 35-18
North Central Region at Fargo, N.D.
1. *North Dakota State - 38-8
2. Nebraska-Omaha - 38-10
3. St. Cloud State - 41-14
4. Augustana (South Dakota) - 43-19
5. Truman State - 39-14
6. Winona State - 40-11-1
South Atlantic Region at Jacksonville, Fla.
1. *North Florida - 44-8
2. GC&SU - 36-7
3. Columbus State - 40-11
4. Armstrong Atlantic State - 38-11
5. Longwood - 36-4
6. Wingate - 33-13
South Region at Miami Shores, Fla.
1. *Barry - 49-8
2. West Florida - 47-9
3. Alabama-Huntsville - 43-16
4. Valdosta State - 47-19
5. Arkansas-Monticello - 42-10
6. Kentucky State - 24-9
West Region at Bakersfield, Calif.
1. *Cal State Bakersfield - 50-17
2. Western New Mexico - 52-8
3. UC Davis - 44-14
4. Humboldt State - 41-17
5. Cal State Dominguez Hills - 36-15-1
6. Western Washington - 26-20
Krystal Lewallen