Posted: May 11, 2016
2016 NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (FINAL)
Tournament Central
Fayette, Mo. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Tuesday evening, the full field and bracket for the 2016 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round from May 16 - 18. Central Methodist University earned a spot as the second seed in the Auburn Montgomery Bracket.
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"We are familiar with Auburn, we have played them the last couple of years," said CMU head softball coach Pat Reardon. "Obviously they are National Champions, we didn't play against them last year, but we saw them at the National Tournament. I have seen them in Gulf Shores and they are set to go NCAA Division II next year and they return another great team."
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Along with the hosts' Auburn Montgomery (48-6), Central Methodist (41-16) will also see Rio Grande (40-7); the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Tournament Champion from Ohio and Lourdes (18-28); the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Tournament runner-up from Ohio. CMU earned the second seed in the Auburn Montgomery bracket, and will face the third seed Rio Grande on Monday May 16th at 3:30pm in their first game. Fourth seeded Lourdes will face first seeded Auburn Montgomery following the CMU game Monday at 6pm.
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"We will have our hands full," added Reardon. "We have to get through Rio Grande first, to have a shot at them (Auburn Montgomery). We will just take it one game at a time and enjoy the experience."
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The winner of the Auburn Montgomery bracket, will advance on to the 36th annual NAIA Softball World Series in Sioux City, Iowa from May 27th June 2nd.
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On Tuesday, the NAIA also released their final 2016 NAIA Division I Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the regular season. CMU moved up two spots to 19th in the Nation. Auburn Montgomery remained ranked 2nd in the country, while Rio Grande remained ranked 22nd.
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"Anytime you come out of the conference tournament, you never know what to expect with the final poll," said Reardon. "I knew a couple of teams ahead of us lost, but you just never know. I think 19th is right for us."
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For more information about Central Methodist University athletics, visit http://www.cmueagles.com. Follow CMU athletics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cmathletics and on Twitter twitter.com/cmueagles. �������
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