Joplin, Mo. - The 13th ranked Missouri Southern softball program is set to host Minnesota - Duluth to begin the NCAA central regional hosted at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex on Thursday, May 11th at 2:00 p.m.

Southern (40-13) finished the MIAA tournament as runners-up but claimed the second seed to host an NCAA tournament regional for the first time since 1993 and third time overall hosting, in program history this is the ninth time the Lions will be in the NCAA tournament and first since 2001. The Lions as a pitching staff has a 2.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, six shutouts, 281 strikeouts while limiting opposing batters to a .254 average. From an offensive standpoint MSSU as a team is hitting .309 with per game averages of 5.7 runs, 8.3 hits, 1.6 doubles, 0.2 triples, 0.9 home runs, 3.5 walks drawn and 1.6 stolen bases.

Yazmin Vargas leads the team with a .419 average, 41 runs scored and 36 stolen bases from 57 hits, three doubles, two triples and two home runs. Leighton Withers is hitting .384 with 56 hits, 14 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 46 RBIs. Adrianna Young is hitting .333 with 43 hits, five doubles, two triples and 31 runs scored. Emily Perry is hitting .325 with 50 hits, 11 doubles seven home runs and 31 RBIs with 36 runs scored. Kara Amos is hitting .319 with 37 hits, five doubles, five home runs and 28 RBIs. Josie Tofpi is hitting .296 with 47 hits, nine doubles, five home runs and 34 RBIs. Ashlynn Williams is hitting .286 with 44 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs and 30 RBIs with 30 runs scored. Katie Gray (.275) and Abby DeSanto (.274) have both hit six home runs with Gray having 23 RBIs and DeSanto 28 RBIs. 

In the circle Avery Tallman has a 19-3 record, 2.22 ERA, 1.17 WHIP from 33 appearances, 21 starts for six complete games, one shutout and helped in two combined shutouts. Tallman for the season has pitched 126.1 innings with opponents hitting .244 against her and striking out 67 times. Bailey Lacy has a 12-2 record, 2.46 ERA, 1.32 WHIP from 32 appearances, 14 starts for four complete games, three shutouts with two combined shutouts and three saves. Lacy for the season has pitched 108.1 innings with opponents hitting .245 against her and striking out 99 times. Natalie Bates has a 7-4 record, 3.29 ERA, 1.49 WHIP from 23 appearances, 11 starts for two complete games and two saves. Bates for the season has pitched 76.2 innings with opponents hitting .269 against her and striking out 78 times. 

Minnesota - Duluth (40-13) won the NSIC tournament to earn the automatic berth into the regional tournament for their 10th appearance into the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs as a team were the best pitching team in the NSIC with a 1.92 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 17 shutouts, 322 strikeouts with conference lows in hits allowed in 266 and opposing batting average .215. From the offensive standpoint UMD as a team hits .303 with per game averages of 5.8 runs, 7.8 hits, 1.8 doubles, 0.4 triples, 0.9 home runs, 3.3 walks drawn and 1.1 stolen bases. 

Nicole Scmmitt leads the team with a .385 average with 50 hits, 12 doubles, three home runs and 28 RBIs while scoring 36 runs. Sidney Zavoral is hitting .379 with 53 hits, 11 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBIs. Kiana Bender is hitting .358 with 54 hits, 16 doubles, seven triples, six home runs and 38 RBIs while scoring a team-high 48 runs. Kat Burkhardt is hitting .351 with 53 hits, nine doubles, four triples, a team-high 10 home runs and 41 RBIs while scoring 35 runs. Corrie Weise is hitting .303 with 40 hits, nine doubles, nine home runs and 33 RBIs while scoring 32 runs. Julia Gronholz is hitting .298 with 42 hits, 13 doubles, three triples, one home runs and 26 RBIs.

In the circle Lauren Dixon is the ace of the staff with a 21-4 record, 1.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP from 32 appearances, 28 starts for 21 complete games, 11 shutouts and one save. Dixon for the season has pitched 161.1 innings with opponents hitting .178 against her and striking out 219 times. Mady Stariha has a 9-4 record, 2.01 ERA, 1.15 WHIP from 26 appearances, 21 starts for three complete games, one shutout and was part of four combined shutouts. Stariha for the season has pitched 83.2 innings with opponents hitting .245 against her and striking out 41 times. Allyssa Williams has a 6-2 record, 3.07 ERA, 1.42 WHIP from 20 appearances, one start for a complete game while helping in four combined shutouts and saving four games. Williams for the season has pitched 59.1 innings with opponents hitting .259 against her and striking out 47 times.