FROM STAFF REPORTS

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Montevallo baseball team is ranked No. 8 in the initial NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings, which were released April 24.

The rankings will be released weekly until all conference tournaments are completed. The top six teams in each of the eight regions will advance to the NCAA Division II baseball tournament, which begins with region tournaments May 15-19. All conference tournament champions receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament.

The Falcons (30-16 overall, 15-12 in Peach Belt Conference) are looking for their first trip to the NCAA Division II tournament since the 2007 season. Montevallo made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament in 2006 and 2007, which included a trip to the Championship Series in 2006.

Montevallo, which advanced to the South Central Region tournament in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, won the region tournament during the 2006 season.

The Falcons are one of six Peach Belt Conference schools ranked among the top eight teams in the initial NCAA Division II Southeast Region poll.

USC Aiken is ranked No. 2 in the initial region poll. Montevallo took two-of-three games against the Pacers in a conference series last month.

Armstrong Atlantic State is ranked No. 3 in the initial region poll. Lander University, which took two-of-three games against the Falcons in a conference series last month, is ranked No. 4 in the region poll.

UNC Pembroke follows the Bearcats at No. 5 in the region poll. Montevallo took two-of-three games against the Braves in a conference series in February.

Francis Marion, which swept the Falcons in a conference series in early April, is ranked No. 7 in the region poll.

Mount Olive College, which won the Conference Carolinas regular season championship, is the top-ranked team in the initial region poll. Coker College, which finished runner-up in the Conference Carolinas this season, is ranked No. 6 in the region poll.

The Falcons return to action in a three-game Peach Belt Conference series on the road at Georgia College this weekend.

First pitch in the series opener in Milledgeville, Ga. is set for Friday, April 26 at 1 p.m. CST, followed by the second game of the series in a doubleheader.

First pitch in the series finale is scheduled for Saturday, April 27 at noon CST.