MOBILE, Ala. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) officially announced the 40-team field and pairings for the 2023 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round on Tuesday evening, May 10, with the University of Mobile Softball program scheduled to travel to Chickasha, Oklahoma to open the national tournament this year. The 10th annual event takes place May 15-17 at 10 host sites across the country. Each of the 10 locations features a four-team, double-elimination tournament.
Mobile earned an at-large bid this season with a 38-13 overall record and were awarded the No. 2 seed of the Chickasha Bracket, joining the top-seeded host of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, No. 3 seed of Cottey College (Mo.), and No. 4 seed of Avila University (Mo.) in the opening round. Overall, the Rams are making their sixth appearance in the NAIA Softball Opening Round, sporting a 15-3 record and three opening round titles. Mobile hosted the Mobile Bracket last season in Gulf Shores, Ala. where the Rams eventually came away with the title and advanced to the 2022 NAIA Softball World Series. Mobile finished the 2022 campaign as the 2022 NAIA Softball National Championship Runner-Up.
Mobile is scheduled to begin opening round play against Cottey College on Monday, May 15 at the 2:30 p.m. CT. Winner of that game will face the winner of the Science & Arts v. Avila matchup the next day. For a full look at the Chickasha Bracket schedule, as well as broadcast and live stats links, click HERE.
More from the NAIA
The 10 opening round champions will battle for the red banner at the 42nd annual NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., May 25 – 31. For more information on the 2023 NAIA Softball World Series, click HERE.
This year's field consists of 32 automatic qualifiers – given mainly to conference regular-season champions, tournament champions or tournament runners-up – and eight 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.
FOLLOW THE RAMS
For complete coverage of University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams (Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/.
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.
