MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Five Southern States Athletic Conference softball teams will compete in the 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round May 11-14 at campus sites.
 
Blue Mountain, Faulkner, Mobile, UT Southern and William Carey will represent the SSAC in the tournament. The Toppers are making their first NAIA Opening Round appearance. 
 
The SSAC and Cascade lead all conferences with five teams in the tournament field.
 
NAIA Opening Round Schedule
 
Lakeland, Fla. Bracket
#1 Southeastern, #2 Evangel, #3 Faulkner, #4 Dillard
 
Columbia, Ky. Bracket
#1 Lindsey Wilson, #2 Missouri Baptist, #3 Indiana Wesleyan, #4 UT Southern, #5 Johnson
 
Hattiesburg, Miss. Bracket
#1 William Carey, #2 Coastal Georgia, #3 Georgia Gwinnett, #4 Marian, #5 Columbia
 
Mobile, Ala. Bracket
#1 Mobile, #2 Eastern Oregon, #3 Campbellsville, #4 Indiana Tech, #5 Truett McConnell
 
Oklahoma City Bracket
#1 Oklahoma City, #2 Grand View, #3 Blue Mountain Christian, #4 British Columbia, #5 Williams Baptist