From VCSU Athletics
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State University softball team is headed to Gulf Shores, Ala. as a No. 4 seed for the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.
The seedings and pairings for the 10 opening round sites were announced Tuesday afternoon by the NAIA national office. The Vikings – the North Star Athletic Association Champions – will be the No. 4 seed for the Gulf Shores Bracket hosted by Mobile University at Gulf Shores Athletic Complex in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Valley City State (33-16) earned a spot in the NAIA Opening Round by winning the North Star Athletic Association conference tournament last weekend. The Vikings will play their first game of the Opening Round against No. 1 seed Mobile (Ala.) (46-2, SSAC Tournament Champion) on May 16. Mobile holds the No. 1 spot in the final NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
Also in Valley City’s bracket is No. 2 seed Coastal Georgia (38-12, At-Large) and No. 3 seed Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) (44-11, Red River Top Record).
Day 1 Schedule – Monday, May 16
GM1: No. 2 Coastal Georgia vs. No 3 Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
GM2: No. 1 Mobile (Ala.) vs. No. 4 Valley City State
Each opening round site is a four-team, double-elimination tournament running May 16-18. The winner of each opening round site advances to the 10-team NAIA Softball World Series, May 26-June 1 in Columbus, Ga.
A total of 40 teams qualify for the NAIA Opening Round. Valley City State earned its spot after winning the North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament, claiming the conference’s automatic bid to the national tournament.
This will be Valley City State’s second appearance at the Opening Round in the past three seasons. The Vikings won their Opening Round bracket in 2019 and advanced to the 10-team World Series. VCSU has moved on to the NAIA World Series three times in school history (2019, 2006 and 1982).
Valley City State has one of the best offenses in the country this season, ranking Top 10 in the nation in runs, doubles, home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits, total bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
VCSU’s first opponent, No. 1 Mobile, earned its spot in the tournament as the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament Champion. Mobile has a 46-2 overall record. No. 2 seed Coastal Georgia is 38-12 overall this season and qualified for the tournament as an at-large selection. No. 3 seed Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) has a 44-11 overall record and had the Red River Top Overall Record. Coastal Georgia is ranked No. 16 in the final poll, while Our Lady of the Lake is ranked No. 17.