IRVINE, CA --- Nine days away from the first pitch at the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship in Decatur, Ala., Concordia now knows who its first three opponents will be, as the eight pools have been announced for the event, held at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.

The Eagles will bring in a 41-18 record and a No. 8 rating in the final Coaches Top 25 Poll, and share Pool H with the NAIA's No. 9-ranked Oklahoma City, which punched its 18th-straight ticket to the event thanks to a 40-11 record and a Sooner Athletic Conference championship.

"We are really looking forward to going back to Decatur this year," head coach Crystal Rosenthal said. "This year, we have had to battle through some tough injuries with a young roster in one of the toughest conferences in the country. It is a testament to our senior leadership that we have persevered and will have a chance to compete for the national title.

"I couldn't be more excited for my team, especially for my seniors."

Oklahoma City and Concordia will square off in the final matchup of pool play, Saturday (May 22) at 2 p.m. CST. Oklahoma City is in the hunt for its ninth national title, after last having hoisted the trophy in 2007.

Concordia is making its second consecutive appearance at the event, and third in program history, and is one of just six teams to advance with an at-large berth, giving the Golden State Athletic Conference three representatives at the event.

The Eagles will open up the tournament with a showdown against Madonna (MI), which touts a 42-10 record, Thursday (May 20) at noon, local time (10 a.m. PST).

Madonna is making its third appearance at nationals, this year by virtue of its Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament title.

Friday, Concordia will take on Minot State (N.D.) at 4:30 p.m. CST. Minot State brings in a record of 32-13, and qualified by taking the Dakota Athletic Conference Tournament championship.

The Eagles have gone 6-4 in their previous two appearances at the NAIA National Championship, and finished at 2-1, just one win away from advancing out of pool play, in 2009.

To find out more about the NAIA National Championship, click here.