INDIANAPOLIS – Carson-Newman's softball program is slotted seventh in the first NCAA Southeast Region rankings released Wednesday afternoon. 

The region rankings, along with automatic bids from the conference tournaments from the South Atlantic Conference, the Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas go on to determine the field of eight for the Southeast Region tournament. 

This marks the first time Carson-Newman has been regionally ranked since 2015 when the Eagles debuted in fourth in the first region poll before eventually falling to the six seed by the time regional play rolled around.

Carson-Newman is one of three South Atlantic Conference school represented on the list. 

The Peach Belt has teams occupying the top three spots in the poll with North Georgia, Armstrong State and Young Harris, whom Carson-Newman swept earlier this season.  Those three programs have three of the five best strengths of schedule in the region. 

Limestone, who swept Carson-Newman in early March, checks in in fourth with a 37-9 record. 

Conference foe Lenoir-Rhyne, whom C-N will take on Saturday for the regular season South Atlantic Conference title, checks in in fifth.  The Bears are 41-8 against Division II competition. 

Pfeiffer occupies the sixth spot.  The Falcons are ranked number two in the NFCA poll with a 36-4 record, however, Pfeiffer has the worst strength of schedule in the region. 

The final three spots are occupied by Flagler, Georgia College and Anderson.  Carson-Newman has gone 4-4 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the region.

The Eagles take on Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday for the SAC title.  A win guarantees C-N at least a share of the crown.  A sweep of either side for whomever pulls it off win them the conference title outright.   First pitch is at 2 p.m. Coverage of the doubleheader will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.