Northern Iowa softball coach Ryan Jacobs believes the Panthers will need to win the Missouri Valley Tournament this week in Carbondale, Illinois to get into the NCAA Tournament. The regular season champion Panthers will enter the tournament with a 38-11 record and riding a school record 17 game winning streak after Sunday’s 9-1 win over Evansville. Jacobs says more early wins in non-conference play would have boosted their at-large chances.

Jacobs says their fate remains in their own hands. The winner of the Valley tournament receives an automatic bid.

The Panthers open in the quarterfinal round on Thursday morning and play the winner of Wednesday’s game between Drake and Evansville.