Indianaplis, IN -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association has released its first softball regional rankings of the 2011 season with Piedmont College claiming the fifth spot of the eight teams listed in the Atlantic Region.  The rankings were released earlier this afternoon heightning this afternoon's match-up with the nationally ranked Emory University set to take place at the Walker Athletic Complex as the Eagles claimed the Atlantic Region's top spot.

The regional ranking from the NCAA comes on the heels of the Lady Lions' first-ever national ranking since Piedmont became a full-fledged member of Division-III in 2003.  PC grabbed the 21st ranking in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll back in March after a 6-0 start to the 2011 season.

The NCAA Atlantic Region rankings also include the Emory Eagles who claimed the #1 spot in the rankings and pay the Lady Lions a visit this afternoon in a doubleheader at Walker Athletic Complex.  Emory brings its 34-2-1 record to today's match-up to go along with a 2-0 mark against PC in the 2011 season as the Eagles swept a home doubleheader earlier in the year care of a game one walk-off home run.

"It's a great honor to be recognized in such a way from the NCAA with a regional ranking," said Head Coach Terry Martin.  "It's a great reward for the hard work that these girls have put in throughout the season, but it simply recognizes the work we've done so far and not what we need to keep doing.  We just need to keep showing up to the ballpark ready to play hard and do the little things that have brought us this far."

Piedmont also claimed the Great South Athletic Conference regular season title earlier this week courtesy of a doubleheader sweep over Maryville College on Sunday.  The Lady Lions will enter the GSAC championship tournament, set to begin next Friday, with the top seed for the second season in a row.

For complete NCAA regional rankings, fans can visit NCAA.com to see both regional and national rankings in all NCAA sponsored sports.