For the eighth straight year, the Central Missouri St. baseball team finds itself just a few more home wins away from the NCAA Division II World Series in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Mules (52-7), which are ranked number one in this weeks national poll, are once again hosting an NCAA regional tournament. And hosting the tournament usually means good things for CMSU, which has advanced to the College World Series six times of the last seven times they’ve been the host. They’ve advanced nine times since 1994 and have won two National Titles.

CMSU will face Emporia St.(41-18), who they had to beat twice last weekend to win the MIAA Tournament. The Mules are 6-0 against the Hornets this season.

The other matchup on Thursday will feature the University of Nebraska-Omaha (40-17) against Wayne St. of Nebraska (44-12). The championship is Saturday afternoon.