BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Minot State University softball earned the No. 8 seed entering the 2014 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament starting Thursday, May 1 at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The top 10 teams in the final regular season standings will participate in the double-elimination tournament, which will be held May 1-3.

The Beavers (28-18) will face No. 9 Upper Iowa (20-26) in the first round at 10 a.m. on Field A. University of Mary (No. 7) and Concordia-St. Paul (No. 10) also play in the first round at 10 a.m. on Field B.

MISU/UIU winner takes on either No. 1 seed Minnesota State (41-9) or No. 2 seed Winona State (40-6) depending on the other first round game, at 2 p.m. on Field A, while the loser moves to a loser out bracket game beginning at 4 p.m.

The NSIC Softball Tournament Champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament, played May 9-11 followed by the NCAA Super Region played May 16-17 on a campus to be determined. The NCAA Championships are set for May 22-26 at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. The NCAA DII Softball Selection Show is set to air via webcast on NCAA.com on Monday, May 5 at 9 a.m.

The NCAA Central Region is made up of teams from the NSIC, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Great American Conference. The top eight teams in each region will advance to the NCAA Tournament, with the top two seeds in each region hosting a Super Regional. Automatic bids will be awarded to the conference tournament winners from the NSIC, MIAA and GAC with the final five spots awarded on an at-large basis.