OXFORD, Ala. — The Iowa Central softball team will begin their pursuit of a national title here on Monday.

The 15th-ranked Tritons (47-10 overall) will face No. 10 Pima (47-7) in the NJCAA World Series.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

The Tritons, who made the program’s only other national appearance in 2009, have won six of their last eight contests after finishing as a runner-up in the Region XI softball tournament.

Iowa Central beat Ellsworth, 4-0, and then Kirkwood, 3-2, in the tourney. The Tritons lost to the Eagles in two straight contests for the title, but earned an at-large bid.

Both Breanna Nolte (.465) and Sydney Wilson (.402) are batting over .400 for the Tritons.

Nolte leads the Tritons with 58 RBI, 11 home runs and 38 extra base hits.

Natalie Rasmussen has 43 RBI and seven home runs. Kyra Kain, Jayda Long and Carly Ryan have 36 RBI each.

Kennedy Palmer has 26 stolen bases for the Tritons. Nolte (69) and Long (66) are the runs scored leaders, as well as hits at 80 and 73, respectively.

Long was one of the top pitchers in Region 11, going 21-4 with 10 complete games. The former Southeast Polk standout had 129 strikeouts and a 2.47 ERA.

Jayden Stahr, earned 14 wins and four saves with a 2.66 ERA. She was an Ankeny Centennial star in high school.

Pima has won 17 of its last 19 games, and has hit 65 home runs thus far.

Jiselle Nunez has blasted 22 long balls and is third in the nation with 95 RBI. Nunez is batting .503. Natalya Rivera has 16 home runs for the Aztecs.

Rivera also has 60 RBI.

Freshman Arianna Flores is the ace in the circle. Flores is 21-3 with 189 strikeouts and boasts a 2.05 ERA.

Iowa Central is seeded 10th in the tournament. Pima is No. 7.