For the fourth straight year, the Missouri softball team will open NCAA Tournament play on its home field.
The Tigers (43-12) have once again been selected as an NCAA Regional host. Missouri earned the No. 9 overall seed in the 64-team NCAA field.
The Tigers will open play in the Columbia Regional on Friday against Illinois State (35-21). The other opening round game pits DePaul (35-20) against Massachusetts (38-11).
Missouri has won an NCAA Regional title in each of the last four years. The Tigers have made three consecutive trips to the Women's College World Series.