Grand Rapids Reporter

For the first time since 2013, Ferris State University's softball team has secured a spot in the NCAA postseason. The Bulldogs were announced as the number eight seed in the Midwest Region on Monday morning via www.ncaa.com.

The team will compete in one of two sub-regional tournaments this weekend, from May 8 to 10, at University Center, Michigan. Ferris State is set to face Saginaw Valley State, the top-seeded host, in the opening round of the national tournament on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The sub-regional event will also feature fourth-seeded Findlay and fifth-seeded Drury (Mo.). A double-elimination format will be used, with the title game scheduled for Sunday.

In addition to Saginaw Valley State's sub-regional, Tiffin, which is seeded second in the region, will host another Midwest Regional tournament this weekend. Tiffin will play against Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament champion and seventh-seeded Indianapolis in round one. Third-seeded Hillsdale will take on sixth-seeded Lewis (Ill.) within Tiffin's sub-region.

The winners of these regional tournaments will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals from May 5-16 at the site of the highest remaining seed. The victor of the super regional moves on to compete in the NCAA Elite Eight from May 22-28 at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Ferris State has previously advanced to seven NCAA Tournaments, with their last appearance being in 2009 when they reached the title game of a sub-Midwest Regional Tournament. The Bulldogs won back-to-back Great Lakes Regional Tourney titles in 1998 and 1999 and claimed another regional win in 2008. Their past NCAA appearances include years such as 1982, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2013.

Under third-year head coach Jake Schumann, Ferris State holds a record of 28-19 this season. They concluded GLIAC regular-season play with a record of 16-12 and entered as the number three overall seed for the GLIAC Tournament where they recorded a mark of one win and two losses before elimination. This season's tally of wins marks their most successful campaign in a decade.

Updates about Ferris State's participation in the Midwest Regional can be found on FerrisStateBulldogs.com as more information becomes available.