HATTIESBURG, Miss. – William Carey will welcome Marian University, Columbia College, Coastal Georgia, and Georgia Gwinnett as one of 10 host sites for the 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, set for May 11–14 at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field.
 
The 2026 championship field includes 29 automatic qualifiers, earned by winning either a conference's regular season or tournament title, or by finishing as a conference tournament runner-up. In addition, four teams secured host at-large berths, while the remaining 15 spots were selected by the NAIA Softball National Selection Committee, which is made up of head coaches and administrators from across the country.
 
The Lady Crusaders (39-12) earned an automatic bid to the NAIA Championship by winning the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Tournament. They are led by Jayden Sawyer, who was named SSAC Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. In the circle, Sawyer holds a 22-3 record with a 0.80 ERA and 232 strikeouts. At the plate, she is batting .342 with 38 RBIs and a .598 slugging percentage. Ryanne Hornsby, a First Team All-SSAC selection, owns a 12-4 record with a 1.96 ERA and 69 strikeouts.
 
Offensively, First Team All-SSAC selection Liz Cross leads the team with a .387 batting average, along with 25 RBIs and a .457 slugging percentage. Fellow First Team honoree Kinley Hogue is batting .370 with 26 RBIs and a .630 slugging percentage.
 
Georgia Gwinnett (29-22) secured its spot in the Opening Round by sweeping the Continental Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. The Grizzlies are making their 11th consecutive postseason appearance and are seeking their fourth straight trip to the NAIA World Series.
 
Sophomore outfielder Casey Beaver leads Georgia Gwinnett with a .415 batting average, 41 runs scored, and 36 stolen bases. Senior infielder Sara Roussel is hitting .399 and has driven in 31 runs. In the pitching circle, senior Kailyn Berry holds a 15-5 record with a 2.13 ERA and 77 strikeouts. She was named the CAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player after earning two wins in the championship. Freshman Tatum Helsom, the CAC Freshman of the Year, has earned 11 wins and leads the team with 82 strikeouts.
 
Coastal Georgia received an at-large bid from The Sun Conference. Rylee Mills leads the team with a .396 batting average and 15 doubles, while also posting a 20-6 record in the circle with a 2.10 ERA over 30 appearances. Rily Andrews has hit four home runs and driven in 42 runs, while Kaitlyn Carolino has scored a team-high 52 runs. Pitcher Emilia Clemons has compiled a 12-3 record in 23 games.
 
Columbia College (27-13) earned an automatic bid as the American Midwest Conference Tournament Champion. The Cougars are led by AMC Pitcher of the Year Ella Schouten, a two-time NAIA All-American who previously earned AMC Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors in 2022, as well as Pitcher of the Year recognition again in 2023. Schouten has posted a 1.10 ERA with 184 strikeouts across 127 innings.
 
At the plate, First Team All-AMC selection Taryn Hargadt leads the Cougars with a .415 batting average, a .453 slugging percentage, and 25 runs scored. Fellow First Team honoree Abigail Zismer is batting .410 with a .485 slugging percentage and 30 runs scored.
 
Marian is making its 11th consecutive Opening Round appearance and 13th overall after earning an at-large bid. Abby Madere paces the Knights offensively with a .413 batting average, 60 RBIs, and a .677 slugging percentage. Abbey Hoffman is hitting .404 with 37 RBIs and a .617 slugging percentage. In the circle, Macy Coen leads the pitching staff with a 17-4 record, a 2.75 ERA, and 91 strikeouts.