Belmont University announced on May 10 that its softball team will play Southeastern Louisiana in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The matchup is set for Friday, May 15 at Rhoads Stadium as part of the Tuscaloosa regional, which also includes Alabama and USC Upstate.
The tournament appearance comes after Belmont won the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Softball Championship, earning its second consecutive automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins outscored their MVC opponents by a combined score of 16-1 during the conference tournament and allowed only seven hits and one earned run while claiming the title.
Belmont is one of six Division I programs to go undefeated in each of their last two conference tournaments. The team set program records for both regular season wins and conference victories this year, maintaining a top national ranking among mid-major programs for much of the season.
The Bruins have been recognized for their performance throughout the year, with four players earning All-MVC honors and four named to the MVC All-Tournament Team. Their pitching staff has been led by an All-American who was named MVC Pitcher of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player for two straight seasons. This player also ranks first nationally in several statistical categories including complete games, earned run average, strikeouts per seven innings, strikeout-to-walk ratio, WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched), and shutouts.
Belmont’s roster features additional standout athletes including top hitters and defensive players who contributed to key victories over ranked teams such as Georgia and Mississippi State during non-conference play. Last season, Belmont recorded wins against Arizona State, Purdue, Maryland (twice), posted a 41-16 record overall, and won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game.
Ticket information for fans interested in attending games at Rhoads Stadium will be available starting Monday morning. Coverage of all tournament games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and through ESPN digital platforms.
