MonticelloLive

Just a few short hours after being eliminated from the Gulf South Conference tournament in Southaven, Mississippi, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms finally got the news that they had been waiting for as late Sunday, the Blossoms were rewarded for their efforts this season with an at-large berth to the NCAA Division II tournament.

64 teams nationally were seeded into eight regions, with the Blossoms earning the number five seed in the South Region (Gulf South Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Sunshine State Conference, and Florida independents). The regional champion will be decided through a double-elimination tournament. UAM’s opening-round game will be against #16 Florida Southern on Thursday in Valdosta, Georgia. Game times have not yet been announced.

UAM and Florida Southern’s softball teams have met just once, with UAM taking a 4-3 victory over the then top-ranked Moccasins in Valdosta in 2005. The appearance marks UAM’s second appearance in the NCAA tournament, as the Blossoms last qualified in 2003.

The Cotton Blossoms join Alabama-Huntsville and Valdosta State as the Gulf South Conference’s representatives in the tournament.

NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL FIELD
1. Valdosta State
2. Alabama-Huntsville
3. Florida Gulf Coast
4. Florida Southern
5. Arkansas-Monticello
6. Rollins
7. Barry
8. Albany (Ga.) State