NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team is once again in familiar territory entering the postseason, being ranked No. 2 in the East Region as the NCAA released its first seeded poll of the season on Wednesday.

The Wildcats finished the regular season with a 28-16 overall record, going 24-7 against teams considered "in-region". The Wildcats are the two-time defending Regional Champions.

Pace leads the way in rankings, sitting with a 32-8 overall record through games played on April 20. The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is well represented with the Wildcats at No. 2, Goldey-Beacom at No. 3, Bridgeport at No. 6, and Caldwell at No. 9.

Eight teams make the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament, split into two four-team brackets. The winners of each bracket will advance to the NCAA East Super Region best-of-three series. Three teams will earn an automatic berth into the Regionals by virtue of winning their conference tournaments. The other five slots will be given as at-large selections.

The Wildcats begin postseason play with the CACC Tournament First Round on Saturday, April 26 at Asbury Field.

NCAA DII East Region Rankings – Week 1

1 – Pace – 32-8 (DII Record); 28-2 (in-region record)
2 – Wilmington – 27-15; 23-6
3 – Goldey-Beacom – 32-11; 28-8
4 – Bentley – 17-17; 14-13
5 – St. Thomas Aquinas – 25-16; 25-9
6 – Bridgeport – 28-11; 22-6
7 – Southern New Hampshire – 22-11; 19-8
8 – St. Anselm – 21-11; 15-7
9 – Caldwell – 22-21; 22-13
10 – Franklin Pierce – 18-18, 13-13