48 Teams Entered Day Two of NAIA Softball Tourney, but Only 34 Survived as Teams Continue to Battle in the Opening Rounds

by | May 14, 2025 | College Sports, Headlines, NAIA, Softball

48 Teams Entered Day Two, but Only 34 Survived as Teams Continue to Battle in the Opening Rounds

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2025 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Rounds continued today as elimination games took place at the 10 sites around the nation. The Day began with 48 teams, but after the final out was recorded, only 34 teams remained.

In the Williamsburg, Ky., bracket, no games were played today as weather plagued the site. Game times for tomorrow have been adjusted to 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Eastern time.

Over in Sioux Center, Iowa, Friends (Kan.) escaped with a 2-1 victory over Northwestern Ohio, while Marian (Ind.) defeated host institution Northwestern (Iowa) 9-0 in six innings. Baker (Kan.) cruised to a 5-1 victory as the Knights are the only team left in the pod without a loss heading into tomorrow with a chance to punch a ticket to Columbus.

Down south in San Antonio, Eastern Oregon defeated Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) to be the last unbeaten team of the pod. Middle Georgia State pulled out a nine-inning one-run ball game against Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) to extend its stay in Texas in a must-win game tomorrow morning for both the Saints and the Knights. EOU will also look to punch a ticket to the peach state tomorrow afternoon.

In Oklahoma City, the Spartans of Missouri Baptist took down the top seeded Stars 5-3 to stay perfect in the pod. While Morningside (Iowa) put up eight runs to stay alive and play OCU tomorrow afternoon.

Up north in Marion, Ind., game six was pushed to 10 a.m. ET tomorrow due to weather, but not before No. 5 seeded Reinhardt (Ga.) continued to play great ball, taking down Rio Grande (Ohio) 7-1 as the Eagles are just one win away from being the first ever five seed to punch a ticket to the World Series.

In the Peach State, Georgia Gwinnett awaits the winner of St. Thomas (Fla.) and Evangel (Mo.) with an opening round trophy on the line. Evangel (Mo.) picked up a pair of wins on day two against Johnson (Tenn.), 4-2, then Thomas (Ga.), 7-0.

In the northwest of Klamath Falls, the third-seeded Warriors of Midland (Neb.) got the job done on the field against host institution Oregon Tech, 12-10. Midland needs just one more win tomorrow at 4 p.m. PT for a spot in Columbus.

In the show me state of Missouri, Central Methodist handed LSU Alexandria (La.) its first lost of the opening round by a score of 4-3. The Eagles will take on the winner of LSUA and Tennessee Southern as they look to force an if necessary, game against the Eagles.

In the Sooner State, there will be a ticket to the World Series punched as Grand View (Iowa) and Science & Arts (Okla.) will take the field at noon CT. The Vikings need to repeat their performance from game three today against the Drovers to avoid the if-necessary game. USAO will look to repeat its second game of the day, where they defeated Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 7-0 in five innings.

Back over in the northwest pod of Ashland, Ore., Southern Oregon and College of Idaho was able to resume play after rain halted the game in the fourth inning yesterday. The Raiders completed the job with a 3-1 win before flying past the Royals of Hope International (Calif.) 10-2 in five innings for a day of rest. The Yotes and Cougars of Saint Xavier (Ill.) take the field in a win or go home game as HIU awaits the winner of that game.

How were the seeds one through five doing after day two?

No. 1: 12-7
No. 2: 16-4
No. 3: 11-13
No. 4: 5-18
No. 5: 8-11

Stay up to date with everything NAIA Softball on X (formerly Twitter) at @NAIA and online at naia.org

Related Stories

Titans Show Out at Home

Titans Show Out at Home   SOUTH BEND – IU South Bend controlled every facet of the game on Friday night, overwhelming Calumet College of St. Joseph in a 97-44 victory at the Student Activities Center. The Titans led wire-to-wire, pulled ahead by double digits in...

Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan State Score Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan State Score Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors Hawkeyes’ Stirtz, Spartans’ Fears Jr., and Illini’s Wagler collect weekly laurels Co-Player of the Week Bennett Stirtz, Iowa G – Sr. – 6-6 – Liberty, Mo. – Liberty Averaged 26 points, 4.5 assists,...

Oregon and USC Score Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Honors

Oregon and USC Score Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Honors Ducks’ Etute, Trojans’ Dunn and Davidson earn weekly awards   Co-Player of the Week Ehis Etute, Oregon So. – Forward – Dudelange, Luxembourg – T71 Dudelange Shot 72.7 percent from the field for 17...

Nat Newell to receive IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award

Nat Newell to receive Distinguished Media Service Award A veteran sports editor at Indiana’s largest newspaper, Nat Newell of the IndyStar is the recipient of the 2025-26 IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award for District 2. Newell will be honored Thursday evening...

RV Bethel Men’s Volleyball sweeps Judson in home opener

MISHAWAKA, Ind. ---The RV Bethel Pilots (2-0) swept the Judson University Eagles (3-2) in three sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-18) on Saturday afternoon in the Goodman Gymnasium.  Thomas Dunkley led the team in kills with 11, hitting at a 0.529 hitting...

Bethel Women’s basketball earns 93-70 win at RV Taylor

UPLAND, Ind. ---The Bethel Pilots (15-7, 6-6) defeated the RV Taylor University Trojans (16-6, 6-6) 93-70 in Odle Arena on Saturday afternoon.  The Pilots improve to a fifth place standing in the Crossroads League, tied with the Trojans (6-6), while...

No.10 Bethel MBB outlast No.24 Taylor

UPLAND, Ind. ---The No. 10 Bethel Men's Basketball Team (19-3, 9-3) defeated the No. 24 Taylor University Trojans (16-6, 8-4) on Saturday afternoon in Odle Arena. Luke McBride sank the game-winning three with five seconds left on the clock for the 78-75...