St. Thomas Aquinas College has been ranked No. 5 in the first numerical NCAA Division II East Region Softball poll, released on Wednesday afternoon. Following STAC's sweep of doubleheaders last week against Mercy University and D'Youville University, the Spartans have locked up a spot in the upcoming ECC Softball Tournament and holds an impressive 25-16 overall record and a 13-3 mark in the conference, with four regular season contests left to play.

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.

STAC closes out its 2024-2025 regular season schedule with matchups at Queens College (Thursday, April 24 -2:30/4:30 p.m.) and against Molloy University (Sunday, April 27 - 12:00/2:00 p.m.).

The East Coast Conference Softball Tournament takes place May 1-3, and will be hosted by the No. 1 overall seed. 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 20)