It’s showdown time this afternoon in Columbia, Missouri when Iowa State plays UNI in the opening round of an NCAA softball regional. The Cyclones are in the field for the first time since 1988 and coach Jamie Pinkerton’s team split a pair of regular-season games against the Panthers.

Pinkerton says he is happy for the Cyclone seniors who have played for three different coaches.

Mizzou plays Illinois-Chicago in the other first-round game.