INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA Regional Advisory Committees for Division II Softball released their initial numbered Regional Rankings on Wednesday morning, with Northwest Nazarene taking the second spot in the West Region.

Last week, an alphabetical list of the 10 teams under consideration in each region was released. This week is the first ordered list of rankings and there will be one more next Wednesday before the official selections are announced on NCAA.com Monday, May 6 at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time. 

Holding a 35-8 record against Division II competition this season, NNU comes in second in this first ordered list, behind only GNAC rival Western Washington. The top two teams in the final rankings announced during the selection show will serve as the host schools for the opening rounds of NCAA Regionals on May 9-11. Eight total teams will be selected from each region, with four going to each regional host during the first weekend of tournament play (4-seed, 5-seed, and 8-seed travel to 1-seed, while 3-seed, 6-seed, and 7-seed travel to 2-seed).

The Nighthawks are looking to make their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament and fifth in the last six seasons in which a tournament was held. With their bye in the GNAC schedule coming this final week of the regular season, NNU's eyes are on Monmouth as they could clinch their fourth-straight GNAC Regular Season title outright if Western Washington loses just one of four games against Western Oregon. The GNAC Championships are then set to be held May 2-4 in Bellingham.