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St. Norbert, UW-Oshkosh both qualify for NCAA DIII National Tournament in softball

Posted at 3:02 PM, May 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-09 23:40:35-04

The St. Norbert College and UW-Oshkosh softball teams both qualified for the NCAA DIII Tournament. 

The Green Knights earned an automatic bid after winning the Midwest Conference Tournament on Saturday, May 6. It's the team's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2012. 

"They're a young bunch and they're hungry," St. Norbert head coach JoAnn Krueger said. "They feel like we can make some noise."

St. Norbert finished just 6-30 last season, but a strong class of 11 freshman helped the Green Knights to a 21-14 record in 2017. 

"We just weren't expecting to do a lot this year," freshman Brianna Braeger said. "Coming out and proving everyone wrong, it just feels amazing."

The UW-Oshkosh Titans earned an at-large bid to the tournament after finishing the season 30-11 and runners-up in the WIAC tournament. 

This is the Titans first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2008.

"Anytime it takes almost a decade to do something and you're the first ones to do it in that long of a time, there's a lot of buzz and excitement," UW-Oshkosh head coach Scott Beyer said. 

Both teams begin regional play in Lacrosse, Wis. on Friday, May 12. The Regional Championship will be held Sunday, May 14.