Lindenwood dual threat pitching and hitting star, Amanda Weyh, earned a complete-game win and had four hits, including a clutch game-tying home run, in the Lions’ doubleheader sweep over UMSL on April 22. (Photo courtesy: Lindenwood Athletics)

by DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

The Lindenwood and UMSL women’s softball teams both earned berths into the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament, which will be played at the EastSide Centre Softball Complex this weekend in East Peoria, Ill.

The tournament bracket was released on Monday evening, with both the Lions and Tritons both earning comfortable spots in the tournament.

Lindenwood, which has a 34-10 record — the program’s best ever as a NCAA Division II program — and also went 21-7 in GLVC play this season, will enter the tournament as the No. 4 seed. UMSL, which went 27-21 overall and 16-12 in league play, will be the No. 5 seed.

This marks the second straight season the Lions have qualified for the postseason, while UMSL is making its first trip to the GLVC Tournament since having a 12-year streak end last season.

Southern Indiana claimed the No. 1 seed, while Indianapolis is slotted at No. 2 entering the double-elimination tournament. Drury will be the No. 3 seed, with Illinois-Springfield, Rockhurst, and Maryville making up the sixth, seventh, and eighth seeds.

The game format this year will be different than previous years, as only four games will be played on the first three days of the tournament, with the championship game or games, if more than one is necessary, will be played Sunday.

The two rival clubs, Lindenwood and UMSL, will play in the tournament’s opening game on Thursday, May 5. That contest will begin at 10 a.m., with the winner moving on to a second round game on Friday afternoon and the loser playing in an elimination game, Friday morning.

The GLVC Tournament champion will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA National Tournament, while all the others will have to wait and see if they receive an at-large bid.

The national tournament field will be announced May 9.