Yellowjackets Ranked Fifth in West Region (Apr. 14, 2005)

BILLINGS, MT –Montana State-Billings is ranked fifth this week in the NCAA Division II West Region softball poll.  The top six teams in the region in the final poll of the season will receive an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.

The Yellowjackets, 28-12 overall, swept two games from fourth-ranked Hawaii-Hilo on Sunday.  They split Monday’s doubleheader with the Vulcans, which was not factored into the poll.  Only games through Sunday were considered.  Four of the Jackets’ 12 losses have been to teams ranked higher than they are in the poll this week, and eight of their losses are to teams ranked in the top ten.  MSUB has seven wins against top ten teams.

Humboldt State has a solid hold on the top spot in the poll.  The Lumberjacks, 42-1 at the time of the poll, won two more games on Monday to extend their season winning streak to 32 games.  Along with Humboldt, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference is represented by No. 9 Seattle University and No. 10 Central Washington in the top 10.  The California Collegiate Athletic Conference has No. 2 Cal State-Dominguez Hills, No. 3 San Francisco State, No. 6 Cal State-Chico, and No. 8 Cal State-Bakersfield.  The PacWest is represented by No. 4 Hawaii-Hilo, the Jackets at No. 5, and Hawaii Pacific at No. 7.

The next poll will be released on April 21.  There are three regular season poll remaining with the tournament pairings announced on May 9.  The regional rounds will be played May 12-15.

MSU Billings next plays on April 25 when the Jackets host Minot State at 11:30 a.m. at Cenex Stadium.  The close the regular season on April 30 and May 1 at home against Western New Mexico.

NCAA West Region Softball (through games of 4/10/05)
1. Humboldt State
2. Cal State-Dominguez Hills
3. San Francisco State
4. Hawaii-Hilo
5. Montana State-Billings
6. Cal State-Chico
7. Hawaii Pacific
8. Cal State-Bakersfield
9. Seattle University
10. Central Washington