INDIANAPOLIS - On Tuesday night, the NAIA announced the 40-team field for the NAIA Softball National Tournament, while also announcing the teams headed to the 10 Opening Round Sites around the nation. Marian University was tabbed as a one-seed for the upcoming NAIA Opening Round, and will be hosting Middle Georgia State, Columbia (Mo.), and Tennessee Wesleyan in the Indianapolis Bracket.
MEET THE TEAMS
Marian University is the one seed in the upcoming NAIA Opening Round, hosting for the first time in program history. The Knights come in with a record of 45-6 overall on the season, earning an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament as not only the Crossroads League Regular Season and Tournament Champions, but as the host of the regional. On the season Marian has had a 27-game winning streak, and has eight victories over teams to qualify for the NAIA Tournament. The Knights' carry the nation's top hitter with
Savannah Harweger leading the NAIA with a .505 batting average, while
Olivia Stunkel is ranked fifth in the NAIA in wins from the pitching circle.
Middle Georgia State is the two seed in the Indianapolis Bracket, ranking 16th in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll of the season. The Knights of Middle Georgia carry a 42-14 overall record, and earned an automatic bid into the field as the winner of the Southern States Tournament. Middle Georgia State is one of three newcomers into the NAIA Opening Round, qualifying for the first time in their program's history, and are one of 15 institutions in the field with 40 wins or more.
Columbia is the three seed in the bracket, and earned an automatic bid as the winner of the AMC Tournament Championship game. Columbia carries a 24-17 overall record, and are making their eighth appearnace in the opening round. Columbia is 12-10 overall in the opening round, and reached the NAIA World Series in 2021.
Tennessee Wesleyan will be the number four seed in the bracket, earning an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament as the winner of the AAC Tournament Championship. The Bulldogs are competing in their third opening round, and come in with a record of 27-15. Last season the Bulldogs reached the NAIA World Series.
GAME SCHEDULE
The NAIA Opening Round will take place on Marian's campus at the Marian Softball Diamond on Monday May 15, with games played through Wednesday, May 17. Game one on Monday will feature Middle Georgia State playing Columbia at 11 a.m., while Marian will play Tennessee Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m. The full schedule is below.
Game 1 - Middle Georgia State vs Columbia | May 15, 11 a.m.
Game 2 - Marian vs Tennessee Wesleyan | May 15, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 - Winner G1 vs Winner G2 | May 16, 11 a.m.
Game 4 - Loser G2 vs Loser G1 | May 16, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Loser G3 vs Winner G4 | May 16, 4 p.m.
Game 6 - Winner G3 vs Winner G5 | May 17, 12 p.m.
Game 7 (If Necessary) - Approximately 2:15 p.m., May 17
LIVE VIDEO AND STATS
The ISC Sports Network will be the official live stream provider for the Indianapolis Bracket in the 2023 NAIA Opening Round. Each game will be a pay-per-view contest, with single game charging at $7.99. Daily game passes will be available, with Monday's two games charging $12.99 and Tuesday's three games charging $15.99. To find the live stream links for each individual game as well as the daily game passes, click
here.
Live stats will be available on Marianstats.com, the official live stat website for Marian athletics. Click here to find live stats of the
tournament.
TICKETS
Tickets for each day will be sold at one of two locations along the Marian Softball Diamond. Single day session passes will be sold, with the price of $10 for general admission, while childern five and under will be admitted free.
The first game for Marian will go off at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15 as the Knights host Tennessee Wesleyan. Live updates of the tournament will be made at @MUKnights on Twitter.
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