MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The NAIA released the qualifiers for the 2022 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, and Mobile (Ala.) and William Carey (Miss.) will represent the SSAC. Both teams are No. 1 seeds and will host opening round brackets May 16-18.
There will be 10 opening round sites across the country, with those 10 winners advancing to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., May 26 – June 1.
Quick Hitter
- The Rams are ranked No. 1 in the NAIA after posting a 46-2 record and winning the SSAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships
- For Mobile, Brinkley Goff is 20-0 with a 0.92 ERA in 121.2 innings, while Emily Butts is 21-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 135 innings. At the plate, Jaden Morace is batting .436 and slugging .612, while Kaylee Pulling has a .355 batting average and team-high 49 RBIs
- The Crusaders are ranked No. 6 in the NAIA after posting a 45-9 overall record
- For WCU, Haley Nations is 22-5 with a 1.02 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 177.2 innings, while Megan Dudenhefer is 21-4 with a 1.53 ERA in 146 innings. At the plate, Carley Kidder is hitting .347 with 48 RBIs, while Mary Grace Turner has 13 home runs and a .719 slugging percentage
Gulf Shores Bracket
- #1 Mobile is in the OR for the fifth time and is 12-3 all-time at the tournament. The Rams have been to the NAIA World Series 20 times
- #2 Coastal Georgia is in the OR for the fourth time and is 8-5 all-time
- #3 Our Lady of the Lake is in the OR for the second time and is 0-2 all-time
- #4 Valley City State is in the OR for the second time and is 3-0 all-time
Hattiesburg Bracket
- #1 William Carey is in the OR for the eighth time and is 12-10. The Crusaders have been to the NAIA World Series seven times
- #2 Marian is in the OR for the eighth time and is 14-8
- #3 Webber International is in the OR for the second time and is 3-0
- #4 Bryan is in the OR for the second time and is 2-1