March 27, 2008

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team has earned the No. 1 spot in the first NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Rankings, and the Flyers (18-8, 6-0) are ranked No. 24 in the most recent national poll.

The regional rankings determine which teams advance to the NCAA Division II Championship in May. The top eight teams from each of the eight regions in Division II earn entry into the tournament. The Flyers have eight previous NCAA Championship appearances.

If the Flyers maintain the No. 1 spot in the Great Lakes Region for the remainder of the season, they would host the regional tournament at the Lewis softball field. It would be the second consecutive season Lewis has hosted the regional.

Since starting the season 1-6, the Flyers have gone 17-2 and won nine straight games. Lewis has scored 34 runs in its last 22 innings, and three Flyers have received Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week over the past four weeks.

Lewis is on the road this weekend, playing a tournament at Winona State.