FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

NFCA Top 25 Rankings

May 12, 2010-- The North Central College softball team is the nation's 22nd ranked team heading into Thursday's NCAA Division III Tournament according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday.

The Cardinals (31-12) accumulated 31 points in this week's poll, remaining in the top 25 for the sixth consecutive week since debuting in the rankings back on April 7 at No. 24. Louisiana College (41-6) remains the nation's top squad heading into the regional round, receiving all eight first place nods. The University of Texas-Tyler (37-7) and Salisbury University (Md.) (33-2) remain steady as the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked squads while Luther College (Iowa) (37-5) jumps up one spot to fourth, replacing Ohio Northern University (37-5) as the Polar Bears drop to fifth.

North Central is one of two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin schools to be ranked, joining conference tournament champion Illinois Wesleyan University (30-14), as the Titans rejoin the rankings this week at No. 20. The Cardinals are additionally one of four ranked squads that will be competing at this weekend's Greencastle Regional hosted by DePauw University (Ind.). Ranked foes joining the Cardinals in Greencastle are fifth-ranked Ohio Northern, 10th-ranked DePauw (35-6) and 17th ranked Washington University in Saint Louis (34-9).

North Central opens up the NCAA Division III Tournament on Thursday at noon (Eastern Time), facing the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament Champion Trine University Thunder.