St. Scholastica was dealt no favors Monday as it learned its opening opponent in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament would be third-ranked Luther College.
The Saints (24-15) and Norse (39-3) meet in a first-round regional Friday in Decorah, Iowa, at a time to be determined.
Luther, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champion, has beaten the Saints all four times they have met in postseason play since 2011, including 9-3 in the 2015 NCAA regional. Luther also blanked CSS 6-0 in February in Rochester, Minn.
This marks the Saints' sixth NCAA appearance and fifth since 2011. They are 2-10 all-time in NCAA regional games.
St. Catherine University and the University of Chicago will meet in the other regional game, with the winners facing each other. The region champ advances to a best-of-three super regional the following weekend.
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The Saints romped through the UMAC postseason tournament by a 31-1 combined margin in three victories.
• Saints freshman Toni Bishop was named UMAC Rookie of the Year on Monday, while teammates Chrisi Mizera, Alexa Bremer, Hannah Borgeson and Olivia Bretting were named to the All-UMAC first team. Mizera led the league in hitting (.526) and was second in ERA (0.64). Bishop and Cindi Rydlund were named to the second team.
• Wisconsin-Superior's Saige Patrick and Ciarra Taipale of Duluth were selected to the first team, with teammates Megan Pehrson and Katie White made the second team.
NCAA Division III Softball Tournament
Central Region
At Decorah, Iowa
Friday's Games
St. Scholastica (24-15) at Luther (39-3), TBA
St. Catherine (32-11) vs. Chicago (25-12), TBA
