MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round qualifiers were announced Thursday and William Carey and Mobile will represent the SSAC.
 
The Opening Round tournaments will take place at campus sites across the country May 15-18, with 10 double-elimination brackets. The winners will advance to the NAIA Baseball World Series May 26 – June 2 in Lewiston, Idaho. 
 
No. 1 William Carey

• The No. 1 seed Crusaders will host the Hattiesburg Bracket, with No. 2 Texas Wesleyan, No. 3 Ave Maria, No. 4 Union and No. 5 Houston-Victoria visiting
• William Carey (44-9) grabbed an at-large bid and won the SSAC Regular Season Championship
• The Crusaders are in the Opening Round for the ninth time overall and are 17-15 in Opening Round action

 
No. 2 Mobile

• The No. 2 seed Rams head to the Williamsburg Bracket where they will join No. 1 Cumberlands, No. 3 Columbia and No. 4 Reinhardt
• Mobile (35-13) earned an automatic bid after winning the SSAC Baseball Tournament Championship
• Mobile is making its third all-time Opening Round appearance and first since 2019