INDIANAPOLIS - The University of North Georgia softball team has earned the top seed and will host a 2017 NCAA Regional this coming week, announced by the national office Monday morning on a live selection show on NCAA.com. The Dahlonega Regional will take place on May 11-13 at UNG's Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium. The NCAA postseason appearance is the tenth consecutive for the Nighthawks and marks the eight time the team has hosted a NCAA regional in the past nine seasons.

Currently ranked third in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division II poll, UNG has a record of 44-10 and stands atop the final Southeast regional poll. 

Traveling to Dahlonega this week will also be fourth-seeded Limestone, fifth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne and eighth-seeded North Greenville.

Limestone (43-11) will represent the Conference Carolinas after earning an at-large bid.

No. 13 Lenoir-Rhyne (46-11) also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing tied for first in the South Atlantic Conference regular season standings.

North Greenville (35-17) is the Conference Carolinas' automatic qualifier after running through the league tournament with four consecutive victories.

Third-seeded Armstrong State (30-11) will host the other Southeast Regional in Savannah, Ga.. with second-seeded Carson-Newman (43-11), sixth-seeded Young Harris (42-12), and seventh-seeded Pfeiffer (44-6). 

The winners of the two Southeast regionals will meet at the highest remaining seed on May 18-19 in a Super Regional with the winner earning a spot in the Division II Championship on May 25-29 at the 2017 NCAA Division II Championship at the James Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.  

The double-elimination tournament will start on Thursday in Dahlonega, with UNG and North Greenville getting started at 2:00 p.m., followed by Limestone and Lenoir-Rhyne at 4:30 p.m.

There will be a total of six games played guaranteed, with the possibility of a seventh if necessary. Tickets will be $8 for adults and $5 for students. Children under the age of seven will be admitted free.  Tournament passes will also be sold for $20 for adults and $10 for students. 

Fans can find all the updated news including previews, game stories, links to live video and statistics, press conferences and travel information at the 2017 NCAA Dahlonega Regional Website.