By Brian Ramsey
OBU Sports Information

ARKADELPHIA — Heading into the postseason, the Ouachita Baptist University baseball team has much more at stake than just competing for a Great American Conference championship after learning that it has been ranked No. 9 in the latest NCAA Division II central region rankings. 

With a good showing at the GAC Championship Tournament May 7-10 in Hot Springs, the Tigers would be in consideration for its first NCAA tournament berth since the national runner-up season of 2008.

NCAA D2 Regional Rankings: https://bit.ly/3ygQtfD

The winner of the GAC tournament, as well as the two other conference champions in the region, earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The remaining five spots are left up to at-large selections based on the NCAA’s tournament formula, which includes categories such as strength of schedule, in-region win-loss percentage, and record against teams with a winning record.

Ouachita heads into its Saturday morning matchup against Southeastern Oklahoma State with an overall record of 30-20 and a GAC mark of 20-13. It is Ouachita’s first 30-plus win season since 2012, and the 20 conference wins is a new school single-season record.

The Tigers and Savage Storm are set to open the GAC tournament on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at Majestic Park in Hot Springs. Southeastern took two of three from Ouachita earlier this season in Durant, Oklahoma.