(Wednesday, May 6; Sioux Center, Iowa) The 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship field has been announced, and the Dordt Defenders are in the 48-team field.

FULL OPENING ROUND SCHEDULE

Dordt earned an at-large berth after claiming a share of the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season championship with an 18-4 record. The Defenders are the #4 seed in the five-team bracket hosted by Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, beginning Monday, May 11.

Dordt will face #5 seed Ottawa-Arizona in the first game of the bracket at 1:00 p.m. (Central), with the winner playing a second game on Monday at 5:00 p.m. (Central) against #1 seed and host Southern Oregon. The other first-round matchup in Ashland features #2 seed Texas A&M Texarkana against #3 seed Saint Francis (Indiana).

This is the first time since 2001 the Defenders have qualified for the National Championship field. A full preview will be released on Friday, May 8.

Ashland Bracket | Laurel Park | All times Central

MONDAY'S GAMES | MAY 11
G1 | 1 p.m. – (4) Dordt vs. (5) OUAZ
G2 | 3:30 p.m. – (2) Texas A&M Texarkana vs. (3) Saint Francis
G3 | 6 p.m. – (1) Southern Oregon vs. G1 Winner

TUESDAY'S GAMES | MAY 12
G4 | 1 p.m. – G1 Loser vs. G2 Loser (loser eliminated)
G5 | 3:30 p.m. – G2 Winner vs. G3 Winner
G6 | 6 p.m. – G3 Loser vs. G4 Winner (loser eliminated)

WEDNESDAY'S GAMES | MAY 13
G7 | 1 p.m. – G5 Loser vs. G6 Winner (loser eliminated)
G8 | 3:30 p.m. – G5 Winner vs. G7 Winner (final round)

THURSDAY'S GAME | MAY 14
G9 | 1 p.m. – G8 rematch, if necessary