(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) – The Central Missouri Mules baseball team is ranked No. 1 in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region rankings released Wednesday night.

The Mules (31-9) are one of two MIAA teams ranked in the top eight. Missouri Western is ranked No. 2 in the poll. Minnesota State is ranked third followed by Southern Arkansas and St. Cloud State to round out the top five. The top six teams in the final regional rankings will qualify for the NCAA-II Central Region Tournament May 16-19 at a campus site to be determined.

The Central Region is made up of teams from the MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Great American Conference.

The Mules wrap up the regular season hosting a three-game series this weekend against Emporia State. The series gets underway at 1 p.m. Saturday with a doubleheader and wraps up Sunday with a single-game at 1 p.m.

Saturday is Senior Day with the Mules seniors being honored in a pre-game ceremony. Saturday is also the 10-year reunion for the 2003 National Championship Mules Baseball team. The team will be introduced on the field during a ceremony between games of the doubleheader.