COLUMBUS, Ga. – For the seventh year, the 2025 NAIA Softball World Series will get underway on Thursday at South Commons Complex. Four games will be played on the first three days of the championship in a double-elimination format.
The 10 teams traveling to South Commons Complex represent a total of eight states and eight conferences, led by the Cascade Collegiate Conference and the Heart of America Athletic Conference, with two teams. View the opening round schedule page for a quick look back at how each team punched its ticket to the World Series.
Only two teams in the World Series this year have taken a red banner back to their campus, led by Oklahoma City with 11, and Southern Oregon claiming three. The Stars are also the most experienced team in Columbus, having made the final site for their 35th time in program history.
Columbus will have some great games this year as the 10 teams who look to stand alone at the top come Wednesday, May 28th, have a combined record of 419-94 or an 81.7 winning percentage. Only four teams have double-digit losses on the season, while seven teams have surpassed the 40-win total, Central Methodist (Mo.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Georgia Gwinnett, Grand View (Iowa), Midland (Neb.), Oklahoma City, and Southern Oregon. The Eagles of Reinhardt (Ga.) made history in their opening round pod, soaring through it with a 4-0 record and becoming the first ever opening round five-seed to secure a spot at the final site. RU was also the only team to make Columbus who was not ranked within the top 25 all season long.
The official NAIA Softball World Series bracket will be updated after each game is completed, which can be found here. All games in Columbus will be streamed for free through the newly redesigned NAIA Network and the Urban Edge Network. From first pitch to the handing out of the red banner, all the action, two great places to tune in. If you are looking to watch the action in person, tickets can be purchased in advance here.
Looking ahead to the first day and a half of games, eighth-seeded Grand View (Iowa) and ninth-seeded Midland (Neb.) will open the games up at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 22. Third-seeded Southern Oregon and sixth-seeded Marian (Ind.) will follow at 1 p.m. ET, seventh-seeded Eastern Oregon and 10th-seeded Reinhardt (Ga.) will step to the plate at 4 p.m., then in the night cap, fourth-seeded Oklahoma City will square off with fifth-seeded Central Methodist (Mo.) at 7 p.m. ET.
On Friday, May 23, top-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) awaits the winner of Grand View and Midland for game seven at 4 p.m. ET, then second-seeded Georgia Gwinnett awaits the winner of Eastern Oregon and Reinhardt in game eight at 7 p.m. ET.
The live schedule for the NAIA Softball World Series can be viewed here, with live stats, watch live, ticket links, and official box scores. For a more in-depth look into the World Series, team stats, rankings, national hitter and pitcher of the week awards, be sure to check out the NAIA Softball Game Notes.