ESU Softball team stuck at NO. 9 in Region
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Emporia State softball team remains on the outside looking in for the South Central Regional tournament. The Hornets did not move up in the regional rankings this week, staying at No. 9.
If the regional tournament started today, the Hornets would be left out. Emporia State can still control its own destiny by winning the MIAA tournament. The MIAA, Lone Star and Heartland Conferences each receive an automatic bid to the regional tournament and the remaining five spots go to the highest-ranked teams in the final regional poll.
The Hornets are 10-2 in the last two weeks, but they have been unable to move up. West Texas A&M, ranked eighth this week, is 3-4 over the last two week.
Nebraska-Omaha remained at No. 4 in the regional rankings as the top-ranked MIAA team even though the Mavs finished fourth in the conference standings. MIAA regular season champion Central Missouri is ranked fifth, and second-place Missouri Western came in at No. 6 this week.
Emporia State opens the MIAA tournament Friday at 6 p.m. against Washburn at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex. The Hornets have won the MIAA tournament the last five seasons.
NCAA South Central Regional Poll
Overall In-region
1. Angelo State 41-8 40-8
2. Southeastern Okla. 50-10 49-10
3. Abilene Christian 42-11 41-11
4. Nebraska-Omaha 38-12 35-11
5. Central Missouri 32-10 27-8
6. Missouri Western 43-8 36-8
7. Midwestern State 31-17 31-17
8. West Texas A&M 33-17 33-17
9. Emporia State 36-13 33-13
10. Texas A&M-Kingsville 32-22 32-22