Mizzou's Chelsea Thomas delivers a pitch during last year's regional final against Illinois State. (Courtesy, Mizzou Athletics)

Mizzou’s Chelsea Thomas delivers a pitch during last year’s regional final against Illinois State. (Courtesy, Mizzou Athletics)

The Mizzou softball team will host NCAA Regional hosts this weekend, as the Tigers received the No. 6 overall seed in the national bracket and are the top-seeded squad in the Columbia Regional with a 35-11 overall record.

This is the fifth-straight year, and seventh year overall, that the Tigers have hosted the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Ehren Earleywine led the Tigers to a third-place finish (15-8) in the program’s first season in the Southeastern Conference, also taking the team to a runner-up finish this weekend at the SEC Tournament.

Joining the bracket are Hofstra (43-11, 18-2 CAA), Oregon State (33-22, 8-16 Pac-12) and Stony Brook (35-23, 10-8 American East). Mizzou will open play on Friday, May 17, against Stony Brook at 6:30 p.m. at University Field.

Mizzou has won an NCAA Regional title each of the last five seasons and have won seven overall. Last year, the Tigers went 3-0 in their regional to advance to the program’s fifth-straight NCAA Super Regional.

COLUMBIA REGIONAL SCHEDULE (CT)

Friday, May 17

4 p.m. – Game One: Oregon State vs. Hofstra
6:30 p.m. – Game Two: Mizzou vs. Stony Brook

Saturday, May 18

Noon – Game Three: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2
2:30 p.m. – Game Four: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 (loser eliminated)
5 p.m. – Game Five: Loser G3 vs. Winner G4 (loser eliminated)

Sunday, May 19

1 p.m. – Game Six: Winner G3 vs. Winner G5
3:30 p.m. – Game Seven (if necessary)