INDIANAPOLIS --- For the seventh time since 2003, the Tusculum Pioneers are in the NCAA Division II Baseball postseason. The Pioneers (36-16) learned late Sunday night they will be the No. 5 seed in this week's Southeast Regional in Columbus, Georgia.

Tusculum will face No. 4 seed USC Aiken on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. at Ragsdale Field on the campus of Columbus State University to open the seven-team, double-elimination regional.

The winner of the Tusculum/USC Aiken game will face top-seed and regional host Columbus State on Friday at 3 p.m. Columbus State earned the Peach Belt Conference automatic bid by sweeping the PBC regular season and tournament titles.

Tusculum is making its seventh NCAA II postseason appearance and first since 2012. The Pioneers advanced to the NCAA South Regional four times in 2003 (Lakeland, Fla.), 2005 (Lakeland, Fla.), 2007 (Tampa, Fla.) and 2008 (Tampa, Fla.). TC advanced to the Southeast Regional in 2009 (Aiken, S.C.) and 2012 (Mt. Olive, N.C.).

Lander is the No. 2 seed in the regional as the Bearcats earned an at-large bid. They will face No. 7 seed Mount Olive, the 2016 Conference Carolinas Tournament champions. That game will be played on Thursday at 3 p.m. No. 3 seed Belmont Abbey also garnered an at-large bid and will face No. 6 seed Catawba at 7 p.m. to close out the opening day of the tournament. Catawba shared the South Atlantic Conference Tournament title with Tusculum but earned the league's automatic bid by capturing the regular season crown. Catawba is also the defending Southeast Regional champions and were the 2015 national runner-up.

"We feel very fortune and blessed to be in the NCAA Championship field. There are a lot of quality teams in what I feel is one of the best regions in NCAA Division II and we are very grateful to have a chance to compete in what is going to be a very tough regional," said Tusculum head coach Doug Jones. "We have a short time to prepare to open against a very talented and well-coached USC Aiken team that has had a tremendous season and posted some quality wins against a very tough schedule. We are looking forward to the challenge and getting down to Columbus."

The double-elimination tournament will continue until Monday's championship game at noon at Ragsdale Field. The regional champion will advance to the NCAA II College World Series in Cary, North Carolina later this month.

The Pioneers have secured the program's 16th consecutive winning season and 14th straight 30-win campaign. Tusculum has won its last three games to claim a share of the 2016 Pilot/Flying J South Atlantic Conference Tournament title. It was the Pioneers' fourth SAC Tournament crown in school history.

- TC -

NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship
Ragsdale Field ▪ Columbus, Ga.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Game 1: No. 4 USC Aiken vs. No. 5 Tusculum, 11 a.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Lander vs. No. 7 Mount Olive, 3 p.m.
Game 3: No. 3 Belmont Abbey vs. No. 6 Catawba, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 20, 2016
Game 4: Game 2 Loser vs Game 3 Loser, 11 a.m.
Game 5: No. Columbus State vs. Game 1 Winner, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 21, 2016
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5, 11 a.m.
Game 8: Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 1, 3 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 22, 2016
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, Noon
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, May 23, 2016
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, Noon
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 3:30 p.m. (If necessary)

All times are Eastern and are subject to change.