After a few days of waiting, the Lakeland University softball team found out its seeding for the upcoming Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament this week in Montgomery, Ill.

The Muskies (32-8 overall, 19-5 NACC) wrapped up the second seed in the tourney and will open play in the double-elimination portion of the tournament Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Lakeland's opponent is to be determined and will be either third-seeded Concordia University Wisconsin, No. 6 Marian University or No. 7 Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Win or lose, the Muskies will play again on Saturday at a time to be determined. The tournament takes place at Bedrosian Stadium, part of the Aurora University Spartan Athletic Park.

The Muskies found out they would be the second seed even before the conclusion of NACC regular season play Monday, which included a doubleheader between Concordia Wisconsin and Dominican with the regular season championship on the line. Lakeland was ensured of winning a tiebreaker with either team for second place based on regular season results, and the Muskies finished in a tie for second with Concordia Wisconsin.

The teams split both regular season meetings, and tie-breaking protocol then proceeds to the tied teams' records against teams occupying the highest positions in the standings, until one team gains an advantage. The two teams finished with the same records against teams finishing first and fourth, but Lakeland won the tiebreaker over the Falcons based on a 2-0 record against No. 5 finisher Benedictine, while CUW split two games against the Eagles.

The importance of being the No. 2 seed instead of No. 3 is significant, as the No. 2 seed ensures the Muskies will play in the double-elimination portion of the bracket. The tourney opens Thursday with teams 3 through 8 playing a total of four games in a single-elimination format, including seeds 5 and 8 meeting as well as 6 and 7 playing each other, with the winners advancing to face the No. 4 and No. 3 seeds, respectively. The winners of the third and fourth games of the day then advance to the double-elimination bracket.

Lakeland will be making its 10th appearance in the NACC Tournament in the tourney's 17 years. The Muskies last appeared in the event in 2022, losing to Benedictine University 1-0 in their only game after days of rain resulted in the tourney being shortened to a single-elimination bracket. Lakeland has never won the tournament, and will be looking for its first win in the NACC tourney since going 1-2 in 2012.

NACC Tournament home page