Blue Hawks set to head to Fayette Bracket for NAIA Opening Round
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Dickinson State University softball team will be heading to Fayette, Missouri on May 13-16 to compete in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round - Fayette Bracket. The Blue Hawks will open play on May 13 against Mid-America Christian University at the Cox Softball Complex on the campus of Central Methodist University.
DSU earned their bid to the national tournament by winnning the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament last weekend. The Blue Hawks went a perfect 4-0 to win the conference, including a pair of wins over top-seeded, and fellow national tournament qualifier, Bellevue University. The Blue Hawks currently sport a 24-22 overall record and have won eight of their last ten games.
The 2024 NAIA Softball National Championship features an expanded field of 48 teams. There are two Opening Round sites that feature four teams and eight with five team brackets, each playing in a double-elimination format. The champions from each of the 10 opening round tournaments will advance to the 43rd Annual NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., from May 23-29. These programs will participate in a double-elimination national championship at the South Commons Complex. The World Series bracket will be announced late in the day on May 16.
The Fayette Opening Round site participants include No. 1 Central Methodist (Mo.), No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 3 College of Idaho, No. 4 Mid-America Christian (Okla.), and No. 5 Dickinson State. The tournament will be hosted by Central Methodist.
The Opponents...
Central Methodist (48-4) is ranked No. 3 in the final NAIA top 25 poll. The Eagles won both the Heart of America Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles.
Indiana Wesleyan (40-13) is ranked No. 16. IWU earned an at-large bid after finishing second in both the Crossroads League regular season and postseason tournament.
College of Idaho (33-17) is ranked No. 15. The Yotes earned an at-large bid out of the Cascade Collegiate Conference after finishing in third place during the regular season, despite going 0-2 in the postseason tournament
Mid-America Christian (36-14) was receiving votes in the final NAIA Top 25 poll.
The Schedule...
NAIA National Championship Opening Round
Fayette Bracket | Cox Softball Complex
Monday, May 13
Game 1: No. 4 Mid-America Christian (Okla.) vs. No. 5 Dickinson State
Game 2: No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan vs. No. 3 College of Idaho
Tuesday, May 14
Game 3: No. 1 Central Methodist (Mo.) vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser
Game 6: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner
Wednesday, May 15
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 5 Loser
Game 8: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner
Game 9: If Necessary
* - Game times will be announced in the coming days.