AUGUSTA, Ga. -Augusta State’s softball squad arrived in Hickory, N.C., on Thursday and began preparations for this weekend’s NCAA Southeast Regional.

The Jaguars, the No. 3 seed in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament, are making their third NCAA postseason appearance in the last four seasons.

ASU enjoyed the winningest regular season in school history under 12th-year head coach Melissa Mullins, posting a 38-15 overall record while finishing second in the Peach Belt Conference. The Jags earned the highest national ranking in school history during the 2010 regular season, climbing as high as No. 10 on two occasions.

ASU will square off against a familiar foe in No. 6 seed and fellow PBC-member Armstrong Atlantic State (33-18) on Friday, May 14 at 1:30 p.m. Lenoir-Rhyne (50-7), the regional host and No. 2 seed, will take on seventh-seeded Mars Hill (28-16) at 4:00 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.aug.edu/athletics, the official website of ASU Athletics.

The Jags and Pirates have met three times so far in 2010, with AASU holding a 2-1 edge. The teams split a pair of regular-season matchups in Augusta on March 24, while Armstrong topped ASU 4-1 in the PBC Tournament on April 17.

Tickets are $7.00 each day and $4.00 for children 12 and under and students will proper identification.

The four-team tournament at Lenoir-Rhyne is one of two host sites in the Southeast Region, with North Georgia playing host to four teams as well. The Saints (45-0) are the top overall seed in the Dahlonega Regional and will match up with No. 8 seed Queens (26-23) in the opening round. No. 4 Francis Marion (34-14) will take on No. 5 Carson-Newman (36-10) at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium on the opening day of the NCAA Southeast Regional in Dahlonega.

The winner of each regional will advance to the NCAA Super Regional May 21-22, with the Super Regional champion advancing to the College World Series in Salem, Virginia, May 27-31, at Heritage Park in St. Joseph, Mo.

Four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in double-elimination tournaments across the country May 14-16.

2010 NCAA Southeast Regional
Hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne
Hickory, N.C. (Bears Field)
May 14-16, 2010

Friday, May 14
Game One:  No. 3 AUGUSTA STATE (38-15) vs. No. 6 Armstrong Atlantic State (33-18), 1:30 p.m.
Game Two:  No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne (50-7) vs. No. 7 Mars Hill (28-16), 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 15
Game Three:  Game One winner vs. Game Two winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game Four:  Game One loser vs. Game Two loser, 4 p.m.
Game Five:  Game Three loser vs. Game Four winner, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 16
Game Six (championship):  Game Three winner vs. Game Five winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game Seven (if necessary):  4 p.m.

* Tickets are $7.00 per day and $4.00 for children 12 and under and students with proper identification.