Louisville, Ky. - The Missouri Southern softball program made a long awaited return to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll for the first time since the final edition of the poll in the 2001 season as announced by the organization Tuesday Apr. 18th.

The Lions are currently 31-8 and are first in the MIAA with a 16-2 conference record. They have gone 17-3 in the last 20 games overall. Southern is ranked 25th and has beaten three ranked teams this season sweeping then No. 2 Rogers State and then No. 20 Washburn in conferences games and then No. 16 Southern Arkansas in a non-conference game.

This week Southern will host Northwest Missouri on Friday Apr. 21st and Missouri Western on Saturday Apr. 22nd in the last regular season home games of the season. First pitch from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex against Northwest is set for 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. with first pitch against the Griffons set for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.