COLUMBIA, Ky. - The 2026 NAIA Softball National Tournament opens this week at campus sites across the country. 48 teams begin the journey to the World Series in Columbus, Georgia, but only 10 tickets are available. One of those tickets will be decided at Marilyn D. Sparks Park, where five teams representing five different conferences are slated to go head-to-head.
No. 10 Lindsey Wilson (41-6, 14-4 Mid-South Conference)
- The Blue Raiders are making their 12th all-time appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, the first since 2022. Lindsey Wilson posted a perfect 3-0 record to claim the Mid-South Conference tournament, utilizing clutch hitting and dominant pitching to prevail in three one-run decisions.
Natalie Wandrie hit 5-for-11 with two home runs and three RBIs during the conference tournament, while
Summer Ray batted 4-for-9 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. The all-conference duo provided all three go-ahead RBIs for Lindsey Wilson in the tournament.
Kayden Murray (26-3) accumulated a 2.63 earned run average over 24.0 innings pitched, including an eight-inning shutout effort in the championship game. The Mid-South Pitcher of the Year is up to 232 strikeouts this season, which is currently the fifth-most in a single season in program history.
Lindsey Wilson last won an opening round title in 2019.
No. 8 Missouri Baptist (40-12, 23-5 Heart of America Conference)
- The Spartans qualify for their third consecutive NAIA National Tournament after clinching the Heart of America Conference regular season crown and finishing runner-up in the subsequent tournament.
Allison Leigraf, the conference's Player of the Year, is batting 0.344 with a team-high 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. She is a major reason why Missouri Baptist ranks second in the nation for extra-base hits. Makayla Johnson, a First-Team honoree, paced the Spartans through the conference tournament with eight hits, four of which for extra bases, and three RBIs.
Kaylie Brake, the program single-season record holder with 24 wins, holds a 2.22 earned run average that is aided by four shutouts.
Missouri Baptist aims to make its first ever World Series appearance.
No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan (37-13, 30-6 Crossroads League)
- The Wildcats won the Crossroads League regular season championship but faced an early exit out of the conference tournament with back-to-back losses. Indiana Wesleyan is making its 11th consecutive trip to the NAIA Opening Round, not including the 2020 season.
Danica Fuller, the league's Newcomer of the Year, boasts a 0.423 batting average with 58 hits, 14 doubles, and four triples. The freshman has 14 multi-hit games this year and ranks top-five in the Crossroads for batting average, on-base percentage, and stolen bases.
In the circle, Avery Toole (17-3) and Isabelle Beidelschies (15-7) headline the Wildcats' pitching staff. Both sport sub-3.00 earned run averages, while Toole is holding opponents to 0.219 at the plate with the help of 123 strikeouts.
Indiana Wesleyan has four World Series appearances, the last of which came in 2022.
(RV) Tennessee Southern (30-17, 12-10 Southern States)
- The Firehawks grabbed an at-large bid into their fifth all-time NAIA National Tournament.
Second-Team All-Southern States selection Haley McDaniel leads Tennessee Southern with 62 hits, while First-Team catcher Mikayla McCain stands atop the lineup in doubles (15), home runs (7), and RBIs (47).
Ella Singletary (16-6) enters the national tournament with a team-low 2.15 earned run average across 23 starts. She has thrown 17 complete games, including two shutouts. In the Firehawks' extra-inning victory over Thomas (Ga.) in the Southern States playoffs, Singletary dealt 14 innings and a season-high 10 strikeouts.
Johnson (Tenn.) (31-18, 19-7 Appalachian Athletic Conference)
- The Royals captured the Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season title to lead them to their second straight national tournament appearance.
Conference Coach of the Year Dayna Carter brings her young program in with 20 home runs -- second-most in the Appalachian -- and a 0.300 batting average.
Juniors Megan Armstrong and Audrey Moorhouse each have a team-best 65 hits, but Armstrong is separated by her team-leading 51 RBIs, six home runs, and 12 doubles.
Lindy Webber (9-3) is up to 136 strikeouts and a 2.21 earned run average across her 19 appearances this season for Johnson.
The Royals have never advanced to the NAIA World Series.
Opening round play opens at noon CT on Monday, May 11 when Tennessee Southern and Johnson square off, followed by Missouri Baptist and Indiana Wesleyan at 2:30 p.m. CT. Lindsey Wilson plays its first game at 5 p.m. CT against the winner of Monday's first game.
General admission tickets are available on site for $10. Parking at the stadium is free of charge.
Pets and/or emotional support animals are not allowed in the spectator areas or sports park. Only service animals are permitted.
Live coverage of all games is provided for free on Urban Edge Network.
