By Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (Brackets) For the third year, forty teams will compete in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. This year’s event takes place May 11-13 at 10 different locations. The format is a double-elimination, four-team tournament at each site. This pool of teams is looking to punch their ticket to the 35th annual NAIA Softball World Series from May 22 – 28 in Sioux City, Iowa. The official World Series bracket will be announced late in the day on May 13 on NAIA.org.

On Monday, the No. 1 seed faces the No. 4 seed at each site while the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds battle it out. The second day features three games and the third and final day has the championship game and “if necessary” contest.

The opening round hosts include: Auburn University (Ala.), Central Methodist (Mo.), Concordia (Calif.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), LSU Alexandria (La.), Oklahoma City, Oregon Tech, St. Gregory's (Okla.), USC Beaufort (S.C.) and William Carey (Miss.). Three of these institutions, Central Methodist, LSU Alexandria and Oregon Tech, are playing as hosts for the first time since the format began in 2013.For more information on the 2014 NAIA Softball National Championship, click here.

The 40-team field is comprised of 31 automatic qualifiers, four Opening Round host berths and five at-large berths. The 19 conferences, including the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.), received one berth per six teams and two berths per ten teams. In addition, two Unaffiliated groups will receive two berths each.

For more information on the 2015 NAIA Softball National Championship, click here.