NAIA Softball World Series Preview
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [SCHEDULE | BRACKET] The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is set to kick-off play in the NAIA Softball World Series where for the first time since 2018, a new champion will be crowned. The 41st annual series will take place May 26 – June 1 at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.
The World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination tournament where the winner will be crowned June 1.
Seeds were determined by the NAIA Softball National Selection Committee (NSC). The NSC consists of one representative from each geographic area, a representative from the National Administrative Council (NAC) Postseason Selection and Ratings Committee, the president of the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.
Game one will feature No. 7-seeded Southeastern (Fla.) whom will face No. 10-seed Webber International (Fla.) at 10:00 a.m. ET. The winner of this contest will face No. 2-seeded Oklahoma City on Friday, May 27th.
In game two, No. 8-seeded Grand View (Iowa) will face No. 9 Tennessee Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m ET. The winner will move-on to play on Friday against top-seeded Mobile (Ala.).
In the 4:00 p.m. ET tilt on Thursday, it will be a pair of teams that each boast a World Series title to their credit when No. 4-seeded Oregon Tech battles No. 5 Science & Arts (Okla.). That winner will advance to play the winner of Friday’s game featuring Mobile. First pitch is scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
In the nightcap, it will be No. 3-seeded Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) against No. 6-seeded Indiana Wesleyan. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to the 4:00 p.m. game on Monday to face the winner of Friday’s Oklahoma City game.
NAIANetwork.com, the NAIA’s official video-streaming platform of NAIA national championship events powered by Stretch Internet, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2022 World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $34.95 or the day package for $9.95. Game 16 – 19 will also be delivered on ESPN3.
Institution | Conference | 2022 Record | Last Time | Appearances | WS Record | WS Titles | Consecutive |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | Mid-South Conference | 52-4 | 2018 | 2 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 |
Grand View (Iowa) | Heart of America Athletic Conference | 45-10 | 2006 | 2 | 1-3 | 0 | 1 |
Indiana Wesleyan | Crossroads League | 53-8 | 2018 | 4 | 2-6 | 0 | 1 |
Mobile (Ala.) | Southern States Athletic Conference | 49-2 | 2019 | 21 | 52-40 | 1 | 1 |
Oklahoma City | Sooner Athletic Conference | 50-6 | 2019 | 33 | 131-49 | 10 | 1 |
Oregon Tech | Cascade Collegiate Conference | 49-11 | 2021 | 7 | 17-10 | 1 | 3 |
Science & Arts (Okla.) | Sooner Athletic Conference | 50-8 | 2019 | 6 | 13-10 | 1 | 1 |
Southeastern (Fla.) | The Sun Conference | 49-11 | 2016 | 2 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 |
Tennessee Wesleyan | Appalachian Athletic Conference | 37-7 | N/A | 1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
Webber International (Fla.) | The Sun Conference | 42-22 | 2016 | 5 | 4-8 | 0 | 1 |