Softball | 5/6/2026 6:38:00 PM

COLUMBIA, Ky. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics released the 48-team field for the 45th annual NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round on Wednesday evening.

No. 10 Lindsey Wilson, the Mid-South Conference's automatic qualifier, learned the four teams joining the Blue Raiders at Marilyn D. Sparks Parks, May 11-14.

No. 17 Cumberlands (Ky.) and (RV) Campbellsville (Ky.) will also represent the conference in the national tournament.

The opening round bracket in Columbia begins at noon CT on Monday, May 11 between (RV) Tennessee Southern, of the Southern States Athletic Conference, and Johnson (Tenn.), of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Then, at 2:30 p.m. CT, eighth-ranked Missouri Baptist, tournament runner-up out of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, and No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan, of the Crossroads League, square off in the second game of the day.

Lindsey Wilson will make its first appearance in the national tournament in four years at 5 p.m. CT on Monday against the winner of Tennessee Southern and Johnson. From there, the double-elimination style bracket continues with three more games on Tuesday, May 12, two games on Wednesday, May 13, and an "if necessary" game at noon CT on Thursday, May 14.

The winner of the bracket moves on the NAIA Softball World Series, May 21-27 at the Souths Commons Complex in Columbus, Georgia.