GULF SHORES, Ala. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 40-team field and pairings for the 2022 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round last week, with the top-ranked University of Mobile Softball team claiming the top seed of the entire field. 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.
Mobile, 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 Opening Round 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.
Joining Mobile in the Gulf Shores Bracket are the teams of College of Coastal Georgia, Our Lady of the Lake University (TX), and Valley City State University (N.D.). After the Rams were announced as the No. 1 seed of the Gulf Shores Bracket, Coastal Georgia earned the No. 2 seed, while OLLU took the third seed and Valley City State was given the fourth seed. A full look at the Gulf Shores Bracket schedule can be found below.
NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament Schedule - Gulf Shores Bracket
Monday, May 16
- Game 1 – No. 2 vs. No. 3 – 11:00 a.m. CT (Coastal Georgia vs Our Lady of the Lake)
- Game 2 – No. 1 vs. No. 4 – 1:00 p.m. CT (Mobile vs Valley City State)
Tuesday, May 17
- Game 3 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 11:00 a.m. CT
- Game 4 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1:00 p.m. CT
- Game 5 – Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – 3:00 p.m. CT
Wednesday, May 18
- Game 6 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 – Championship Game – 11:00 a.m. CT
- Game 7 – If necessary 30 minutes after the end of game 6.
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 No. 1 Rams will face Valley City State on Monday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. CT following the (2) Coastal Georgia v. (3) Our Lady of the Lake game at 11:00 a.m. CT.
- Mobile enters the tournament field as the only team with two or fewer losses
- 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.
