The University of Minnesota Duluth appeared seventh once again in the second report of the NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings released Wednesday, which has it in the eight-team NCAA Central Region field. The central region is comprised of 42 teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC).
The Bulldogs, currently at 26-17 overall and 21-11 against regional competition, are the third-ranked NSIC team in the poll. The University of Central Oklahoma (MIAA) continues to holds down the top spot in the region after taking the nation's No. 1 spot in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association poll, followed by a pair of NSIC clubs -- Winona State University and Augustana University. The Warriors and Vikings flipped spots from last week's poll. A pair of GAC schools also flipped rankings as Arkansas Tech University overtook fourth and the 2018 Central Region Champion University of Southern Arkansas dropped to fifth. Missouri Western State University remained one spot ahead of UMD, which appeared in its first NCAA Super Regional last season, and the University of Central Missouri (MIAA) jumped up one place right behind the Bulldogs at No. 8. St. Cloud State University dipped to ninth and Minnesota State University, Mankato hopped into No. 10 to round out the regional field.
This is the second of three regional rankings to be put out by the NCAA. The winners of the NSIC Postseason Tournament, which is held May 2-4, and the champions of the MIAA and the GAC get automatic bids to the tournament, leaving five at-large bids chosen by the teams ranked highest following postseason tournament play. The NCAA softball selection show will be streamed online on Monday, May 6 at 9:00 a.m. on
NCAA.com.
UMD, which is trying to make its third postseason appearance in four seasons, takes on Minnesota State Univeristy-Moorhead today in its final road games of the season. The Bulldogs close out the season at home this weekend with Southwest Minnesota State University and the University of Sioux Falls making an appearance to Duluth.
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
Regional |
| 1 |
Central Oklahoma (MIAA) |
38-4 |
38-4 |
| 2 |
Winona State (NSIC) |
37-5 |
28-4 |
| 3 |
Augustana (NSIC) |
42-7 |
31-7 |
| 4 |
Arkansas Tech (GAC) |
37-13 |
37-13 |
| 5 |
Southern Arkansas (GAC) |
41-10 |
38-8 |
| 6 |
Missouri Western State (MIAA) |
30-14 |
30-14 |
| 7 |
Minnesota Duluth (NSIC) |
26-17 |
21-11 |
| 8 |
Central Missouri (MIAA) |
29-17 |
29-17 |
| 9 |
St. Cloud State (NSIC) |
32-14 |
25-12 |
| 10 |
Minnesota State (NSIC) |
29-17 |
21-16 |
