St. Thomas Aquinas College continues to hold the fifth spot in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Softball poll, released on Wednesday afternoon. Following a 3-1 week against Queens College and Molloy University, the Spartans have secured the overall number one seed and hosting duties in the upcoming ECC Softball Tournament, and holds an impressive 28-17 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the conference.

Around the ECC, only the Spartans hold a position in this week's rankings.

Eight teams will be represent the East Region in this season's NCAA Tournament, with automatic bids going to tournament champions from the East Coast Conference (ECC), Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), and the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10), and the remaining five berths being awarded on an at-large basis. Pace University (NE10) sits atop this week's poll with Wilmington University (CACC), Goldey-Beacom College (CACC) and Bentley University (NE10) rounding out the top four.

Winners of now four consecutive ECC Regular Season titles, No. 1 STAC opens postseason play on Thursday, May 1 at Spartan Field against No. 4 seeded D'Youville University (19-17, 9-11 ECC). First pitch of the East Coast Conference double-elimination format tournament is set for noon. The Spartans took all four games with the Saints in the regular season, winning in both Buffalo (8-1 & 8-0) and Sparkill (3-0 & 9-3).

The East Coast Conference Softball Tournament takes place May 1-3, and will be hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas College. Following the crowning of a champion by the ECC, NCAA brackets and locations will be announced for regional tournament play, which gets underway May 8-10 at two campus sites, with the winners from each squaring off in super regional competition, May 15 & 16. The East Region Champion will then make their way to Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the Division II Finals, May 22-28.

NCAA Division II Softball East Region Rankings (Games Through April 27)