Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information

Map of Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Bracket) (Press Book) (Live Video) Ten teams are ready to compete in Sioux City, Iowa, as the 35th Annual NAIA Softball World Series, presented by Security National Bank and Morningside College runs from May 22 – 28. The double-elimination championship-style event will be played out at the Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex. The City of Sioux City and Morningside College serve as official hosts for the first time.

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of 17 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $20. For more information, including how to register for an account, click here.

There will up to 19 games played during a seven-day span on one championship stadium field. There are four games on each of the first three days (May 24 is off day), three contests on May 26, two games on May 27 and the championship final on May 28.

No. 7 Oregon Tech (44-14) and No. 10 Dickinson State (N.D.) (44-11) meet up in the first game Friday at 10 a.m. CDT. The historic Parade of Champions, featuring an introduction of all 10 teams on the field, will begin at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday.

No. 1 seed LSU Alexandria, claiming the top position for the second-straight year, checks in with a 50-3 overall record. Boasting the nation’s longest win streak at 41-straight games, the Generals last loss came on March 1 against fellow World Series qualifier No. 5 Central Methodist (Mo.). The two squads could potentially collide if both teams win their first contest. LSU Alexandria is ranked Nos. 1 or 2 in 15 major offensive statistical categories. Senior centerfielder Brooke Thomas stands first in the NAIA in triples (8) and is second in batting average (.519).

Defending national champion and No. 2 seed Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), who joins LSU Alexandria, No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and No. 8 William Carey (Miss.) as repeat qualifiers from the 2014 World Series, is looking to become the first back-to-back titlist since Oklahoma City did so from 2000-02. Senior pitcher Cassie Jones (nee’ Daniels) is the reigning World Series MVP. She brings in a dominant pitching game as she ranks No. 1 in the NAIA in wins (32), opponent batting average (.102) and ERA (0.930).

The lone World Series rookie is No. 4 Campbellsville (Ky.). Out of the Mid-South Conference, the Tigers were champions in the USC Beaufort (S.C.) Opening Round Bracket.

Of all 2015 qualifiers, No. 6 Mobile (Ala.) owns the most all-time appearances with its 18th trip. The Rams stand 50-34 in the postseason. Mobile is the only qualifier with more than seven previous appearances. Besides Campbellsville, five other programs are making their fourth-or-fewer trip.

No. 9 Concordia (Ore.) and Dickinson State snap the longest World Series drought, with their last appearance back to 2010. This is Concordia’s third all-time trip, while the Blue Hawks are playing in their fifth event.

Six conferences are represented in the 2015 World Series, led by three programs from the Southern States Athletic Conference – Auburn Montgomery, Mobile and William Carey.

The qualifiers are comprised of 10 NAIA National Championship Opening Round champions, which ran from May 11 -13. To see those champions, click here.

For more information on the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series, click here.

Taking a Closer Look at the 2015 Softball World Series
● The City of Sioux City and Morningside College serve as official hosts. The 2016 World Series will take place in Sioux City from May 27 - June 2.
● The City of Sioux City currently hosts two other NAIA National Championships: the NAIA Volleyball National Championship for the past seven years and the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship for the past 18 years.
● The Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex has been the home of Morningside Mustangs softball since its completion in 2006. The first game on the field was played March 19, 2007, when Morningside swept Black Hills State (S.D.) by scores of 4-3 and 1-0.
● The Opening Round format marked the third-straight year in the 35-year history of the sport. From 2005-12, the championship format included pool play and pool play champions advanced to double-elimination action.
● LSU Alexandria (La.) currently owns the NAIA active winning streak with 41-straight victories. The last loss came on March 1 against Central Methodist (Mo.). Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is next with a 32-game winning streak.
● Top seed LSU Alexandria is looking to become the second team in the last three years to take the World Series as the No. 1 seed. Since 1999, seven top seeds have won the event.
● With 50 wins, LSU Alexandria boasts the most wins on the season of all qualifiers. Conversely, Mobile (37) has the fewest amount of wins.
● Six of the Top 10 teams ranked in the Final NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll (May 7) are playing in the World Series. Programs outside of the Top 10 are No. 12 Oregon Tech, No. 14 William Carey, No. 17 Concordia (Ore.), and (RV) Dickinson State (N.D.).
● Defending national champion Auburn Montgomery is looking to become the first repeat titlist since Oklahoma City went back-to-back-to-back from 2000-02.
● Auburn Montgomery returns as the defending national champion, winning its first-ever title in 2014 in its sixth year of varsity existence. The Warhawks are joined by Oregon Tech (2011) and Mobile (2006) as the other qualifiers who won a previous red banner.
● Currently, 196 schools sponsor NAIA softball -- there are 19 conferences and two Unaffiliated Groups in NAIA Softball.
● For social media, use hashtag #NAIASBWorldSeries for any twitter discussion.

Celebrating 35 Years of NAIA Softball World Series
● In 35 years, the NAIA Softball World Series has traveled to 14 different cities in 10 different states. Sioux City, Iowa, is the host city for the first year.
● The title of NAIA Softball World Series is a name change from the former title of NAIA Softball National Championship final site. The move was made prior to 2014.
● With the inclusion of Campbellsville (Ky.) this year, there have been 196 schools that have qualified since the inaugural event in 1981.
● From 2008-12, the National Championship games were decided by one run, including a nine-inning affair in 2012. In the last two years, the game has not been as dramatic with Concordia (Calif.) winning by five runs in 2013 and Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) taking a 10-6 victory last season.
● There has been parity in recent World Series action, as a new champion has been crowned in each of the past nine events.
● The National Championship game been forced into extra innings on five occasions, including the 2012 national tilt between former member Shorter (Ga.) and Oklahoma City.
● Eight title games have been won via shutout, led by Oklahoma City’s 12-0 blanking of Athens State (Ala.) in 1997. That mark is also the largest margin of victory. The last championship game shutout was in 2011 when Oregon Tech held off California Baptist, 1-0.