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MARSHALL, Minn. - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has selected the 64 teams that will participate in the 2009 NCAA Division II Softball Regional Championships, and for the fourth straight season, Southwest Minnesota State has been selected to play in the NCAA regional.  In a new format this season, four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in double-elimination tournaments to be held May 8-10.  Winners from each of the 16 regional sites will advance to the super regionals May 15-16.  SMSU is the No. 8 seed in the regional and will play the region's top seed Winona State on May 8 at 1 p.m. in Winona, Minn.

We meet again:  The match-up between SMSU and WSU is anything but a rare occurrence for the two squads this season.  Friday's game will be the fifth meeting between the programs in 2009.  The Warriors have the upper hand in this season's series as they lead 3-1.  SMSU's   win came in the opening game of a doubleheader on April 25 in Marshall when the Mustsangs defeated the Warrios 2-1.

A little history:  SMSU is making its fourth straight and fourth ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  Shawn Semler has been the skipper for the Mustangs in each of those seasons.  Last season, SMSU was eliminated from the tournament by Minnesota State.  The Mavericks defeated the Mustangs 2-1 in the double-elimination format tournament.  Friday's opening game against WSU will be the second time SMSU has squared off with the Warriors in the NCAA tournament; WSU defeated the Mustangs 8-1 last season in the regional.

New venue:  Despite SMSU's five meetings with the Warriors this season, the Mustangs have yet to play on WSU's Alumni Field.  The venue is new to the WSU campus this season, and SMSU is hoping that its first crusade in the fresh facility is a victorious one.

Runner-up finish:  SMSU hosted the 2009 NSIC Tournament last weekend, falling 3-2 in the championship game to Winona State.  The title game commenced in thrilling fashion as WSU gunned down SMSU's Micki Seibring at the plate for the final out of the game to complete a 3-2, comeback victory for the Warriors.

Tournament honors:  Right fielder Amanda Burkhart (Omaha, Neb.), left fielder Meaghan Laetsch (Salem, S.D.), designated player Kiley Peterson (Omaha, Neb.) and pitcher Amanda Johnson (Fremont, Neb.) were each honored as NSIC All-Tournament performers for their play last weekend.  Burkhart collected five RBIs and slammed two home runs on the weekend, giving her a mammoth 18 on the season.  Laetsch was an impressive .563 at the plate for SMSU.  Peterson hit .455 during the tournament with a home run.  Johnson went 3-1, posted a 1.04 ERA, struckout 31 and held opponents to a .165 batting average in 27.0 innings pitched.

Senior momentum:  Four SMSU senior are nearing the end of their careers as Mustangs.  Burkhart, Johnson, Amanda Tucci (Oakdale, Minn.) and Jessica Paczosa (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) have all been with the program for the duration of their careers and are key parts to this season's fourth-straight NCAA Tournament run.

Rank 'em:  SMSU was picked to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.  The Mustangs received 164 points in the poll, just one point behind the No. 2 team, Minnesota State.  SMSU also received three first-place votes.

He's back:  Shawn Semler is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Mustangs.  He's led SMSU to five conference championships and four NCAA Regional Tournament appearances.  Semler has also coached 27 all-conference performers and been named the NSIC's top coach three times.