The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team gained the program's 10th NCAA Division II NCAA Tournament bid and first since the 2003 season.
 
The Bearcats (36-16 overall) gained the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Central Region and will travel to Pittsburg, Kan., to take on No. 5 seed Augustana Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT) in its opening matchup of the double elimination format.
 
Pittsburg State earned the top seed in the Central Region after claiming the MIAA regular season and tournament championships. The Gorillas are 43-9 on the season. Northwest went 3-1 against Pittsburg State this year.
 
Augustana (41-13 overall) captured an automatic bid by winning the NSIC Tournament title.
 
Arkansas Tech (35-20) earned a spot in the field by taking home the GAC Tournament crown.
 
NCAA Central Region – Pod 1 (Pittsburg Kan.)
Thursday, May 14
No. 1 Pittsburg State vs. No. 8 Arkansas Tech, 3 p.m.
No. 4 Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 5 Augustana, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 15
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 16
Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Winner Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5

Sunday, May 17
If Necessary, 3 p.m.
 
NCAA Central Region – Pod 2 (Claremore, Okla.)
Thursday, May 14
No. 2 Rogers State vs. No. 7 Missouri Southern, 3 p.m.
No. 3 Central Missouri vs. No. 6 Minnesota State, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 15
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 16
Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Winner Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5

Sunday, May 17
If Necessary, 3 p.m.
 
The NCAA championship provides for a field of 64 teams. Four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in a double elimination tournament. The 16 teams advancing from regional competition will participate in a two-team, best-of-three super regional at eight sites (May 21-23). The winners of the Super Regional series will advance to the NCAA Div. II Baseball Championship in Cary, N.C., May 29-June 6. The finals will include the eight super regional winners. The national champion will be determined in a best-of-three final series.
 
Northwest has an all-time NCAA Div. II Tournament record of 11-18. The Bearcats have competed in the NCAA Tournament in 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1989 and 2003. Northwest advanced past the regional round in 1975 to the NCAA Baseball Championship Series in Springfield, Ill.
 

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NMWSU Baseball Regional History – 11-18 Overall (9 Appearances)
 
1973 – Maryville, Mo. (NCAA Midwest Region)
L, 8-3 vs. Missouri-St. Louis
L, 13-1 vs. South Dakota State
 
1975 – Brookings, S.D. (NCAA Midwest Region)
W, 6-4 vs. Nebraska-Omaha
W, 10-2 vs. Missouri-St. Louis
W, 11-10 vs. Missouri-St. Louis
Springfield, Ill. (NCAA Div. II Baseball Championship)
W, 6-2 vs. Southeastern Louisiana
L, 2-1 vs. Florida Southern
L, 6-1 vs. Marietta
 
1978 – Springfield, Mo. (NCAA North Central Region)
W, 6-4 vs. Morningside
L, 5-2 at Missouri State
W, 14-4 vs. Missouri-St. Louis
L, 3-1 at Missouri State
 
1979 – Springfield, Mo. (NCAA Midwest Region)
L, 5-3 vs. Missouri-St. Louis
L, 7-5 at Missouri State
 
1980 – Springfield, Mo. (NCAA Midwest Region)
W, 2-1 vs. Morningside
W, 6-5 at Missouri State
L, 7-4 vs. Minnesota State
L, 8-2 vs. Minnesota State
 
1982 – Edwardsville, Ill. (NCAA Midwest Region)
L, 5-4 vs. Minnesota State
W, 4-3 at SIU-Edwardsville
L, 4-2 vs. Minnesota State
 
1983 – Edwardsville, Ill. (NCAA Midwest Region)
W, 6-5 at SIU-Edwardsville
L, 8-3 vs. Minnesota State
L, 3-1 at SIU-Edwardsville
 
1989 – Warrensburg, Mo. (NCAA Central Region)
L, 3-0 vs. SIU-Edwardsville
L, 18-8 at Central Missouri
 
2003 – Warrensburg, Mo. (NCAA Central Region)
L, 16-3 vs. Rockhurst
W, 5-3 vs. Minnesota-Duluth
L, 7-4 vs. Rockhurst

2026 – Pittsburg, Kan. (NCAA Central Region)
vs. Augustana