(WIAC) INDIANAPOLIS–For the first time since 2015, three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) teams have received bids into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh secured two of 23 at-large bids into the 64-team field, while UW-Whitewater claimed an automatic bid by winning the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s).
UW-La Crosse (33-9) will host regional action and open against Bethan Lutheran College (Minn.) (29-12). UW-La Crosse is making its third consecutive NCAA appearance and ninth NCAA in program history. The regional will also include Buena Vista University (Iowa) (32-10) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Calif.) (31-12).
UW-Oshkosh (31-13) will travel to St. Peter, Minn., and face University of Chicago (Ill.) (26-14). The Titans are in the NCAA field for the 26th time in program history and first time since the 2018 campaign. Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) (36-7) and Beloit College (Wis.) (30-14) will also compete in the regional.
UW-Whitewater will travel to Adrian, Mich., for its regional contests and play Adrian College (28-16) in its first game. The Warhawks are making their second straight NCAA appearance and 26th overall. The regional will also feature Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) (25-15) and Ohio Northern University (29-12).
All regionals are double-elimination and will begin May 16, with the 16 regional winners qualifying for super regionals. The eight super regional winners will advance to the pool play double-elimination championship at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio, May 30-June 5.
Softball
INDIANAPOLIS–For the first time since 2011, four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) teams have received bids into the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater claimed three of the 22 at-large bids into the 64-team field, while UW-Oshkosh secured an automatic bid after winning the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s).
UW-Eau Claire (27-14) will travel to Angola, Ind., for regional action and open against Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio) (31-4). The Blugolds are making their 14th NCAA appearance. The regional will also feature Trine University (Ind.) (36-5) and University of Pittsburgh Greensburg (Pa.) (21-17).
UW-Oshkosh (36-6) will host a regional and face Concordia University (Wis.) (31-11) in its first game. The regional will also include Central College (Iowa) (26-11) and UW-Stevens Point (28-12). UW-Oshkosh is making its third consecutive NCAA appearance – and 12th overall – and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Finals last year. UW-Stevens Point’s appearance is its second straight and ninth overall.
UW-Whitewater (35-6) will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, for its regional contests, and open against Penn College (Pa.) (29-14). The Warhawks are making their third straight NCAA showing and 25th in program history. Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) (28-10) and Lebanon Valley College (Pa.) (29-13) will also compete in the regional.
Double-elimination regional matchups will begin May 15, with the teams advancing from each regional competing in super regionals May 22-23. The NCAA Division III Softball Championship is slated for May 29-June 4 at Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park in Bloomington, Ill.
