KANSAC CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 40-team field and pairings for the 2022 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. The 9th annual event takes place May 16-18 at 10 host sites. Each of the 10 locations features a four-team, double-elimination tournament.

The University of Mobile Softball team, who ranked No. 1 in the final regular season NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, was named the top seed of the 2022 NAIA Softball World Series after claiming the 2022 SSAC Softball Championship and owning a current 46-2 overall record. The Rams will host the Gulf Shores Bracket on May 16-18 at the Gulf Shores Athletic Complex.

Notables for Mobile

• 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 10 opening round champions will battle for the red banner at the 41st annual NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., May 26 – June 1. For more information on the World Series, click here: https://www.naia.org/sports/sball/visitors-info.

The field consists of 33 automatic qualifiers – given to conference regular-season champions, tournament champions or tournament runners-up – and seven at-large teams. Conferences with 10-or-more members receive two automatic qualifiers, while leagues with less than 10 get one.

At-large teams were determined by the NAIA Softball National Selection Committee (NSC). The NSC consists of one representative from each geographic area, a representative from the National Administrative Council, a member of the NAIA-Softball Coaches Association Executive Committee and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.

For a full look at the 2022 NAIA Softball Opening Round schedule and bracket, click here: https://www.naia.org/sports/sball/2021-22/Releases/2022_OR_Schedule.

2022 NAIA Softball National Championship Qualifiers:

Opening Round Notes - Gulf Shores Bracket

• Top-seeded Mobile will host three teams in the Gulf Shores Bracket on May 16-18 ; (2) College of Coastal Georgia, (3) Our Lady of the Lake (Tex), & (4) Valley City State (N.D.). 
• #1 Mobile is in the opening round 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 opening round for the fourth time and is 8-5 all-time.
• #3 Our Lady of the Lake is in the opening round for the second time and is 0-2 all-time.
• #4 Valley City State is in the opening round for the second time and is 3-0 all-time.
• The Rams will face Valley City State on Monday, May 16 to begin the opening round.
• Mobile enters the tournament field as the only team with two or fewer losses
• Start times are currently TBA. 
• All games will be broadcasted live at https://team1sports.com/umobilerams/. 

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.