The College of Staten Island women's softball team is returning to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament for the first time since 2011 and the Dolphins will take on host, Montclair State University, Thursday, May 9, at the Montclair State Softball Stadium.  Due to the rain, the start time for this game has been moved from 11:00am to 2:00pm.  Another assessment of field conditions will be made at 10:00am, at which time it will be determined whether or not the game will be moved further.  Be sure to stay abreast with www.csidolphins.com throughout the day.  MSU goes into the Regional as the hosts and No. 1 seed, boasting an impeccable 41-3 overall mark.  The CSI-MSU matchup will be the first of four games on Thursday.

In other action fourth-seeded Kean University (27-17-1) meets fifth-seeded DeSales (28-10-1) at 1:00 pm. No. 3 seed Virginia Wesleyan (38-6) faces No. 6 seed Roger Williams (23-18) at 3:00 pm with second-seeded Susquehanna (37-7) battling seventh-seeded Farmingdale State (24-15) at 5:00 pm.

The double-elimination tournament continues through Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship May 17-21 in Eau Claire, WI.

CSI clinched an automatic bid into this year's NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in school history with a thrilling CUNYAC championships game that ended in extra innings. With that win, the Dolphins stand with an overall record of 24-14.  Their 24 victories area tied for fourth highest in CSI single season history.

The game against the Red Hawks will mark the second meeting between the two teams in 14 days. The Red Hawks posted a sweep of the Dolphins on April 25 winning by scores of 9-1 and 7-0. It will be the second time the two have met in the NCAA Tournament with Montclair recording a 3-1 win in the 2007 Regional at the MSU Softball Stadium.

Montclair State is not the only familiar foe awaiting the Dolphins at the eight-team bracket as there are a few blasts from the past awaiting their arrival. CSI is 8-5 against Farmingdale State with the last meeting coming on April 19, 2012 in a 4-3 game won by the Dolphins. The last game against Kean also fell in favor of CSI with a 4-2 victory, March 13, 2010. The College of Staten Island took the lead in the series against Virginia Wesleyan, 2-1, as they beat the Marlins 12-9 on April 16, 1990.

This will be CSI's sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament in school history. In 2011, the Dolphins participated in the Cortland Regional where they fell to fifth-seeded Moravian and sixth-seeded Kings College. The College of Staten Island is 2-10 overall in its five NCAA appearances.