JACKSON, Miss - For the first time in program history, NCAA postseason softball is coming to Jim McLeod Field.

Belhaven will host the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Regional from Thursday, May 14 through Saturday, May 16, bringing together four programs with conference championships, postseason experience, and plenty of star power.

The four-team, double-elimination regional features No. 1 seed Belhaven, No. 2 seed Emory, No. 3 seed Berry, and No. 4 seed Westminster (Pa.). The winner advances to the NCAA Super Regionals.

Belhaven opens the weekend Thursday at 11:00 a.m. against Westminster (Pa.), while Emory and Berry follow at 1:30 p.m. The tournament continues Friday with three games before Saturday's regional final and, if necessary, a second championship game.

FOLLOW ALONG
Tournament Dates: Thursday, May 14 through Saturday, May 16
Tournament Website: https://blazers.belhaven.edu/sports/2026/5/7/2026-ncaa-division-iii-softball-regional.aspx
Location: Jim McLeod Field, Jackson, Mississippi
Host: Belhaven University
Format: Four-team, double-elimination regional
What's at stake: Regional champion advances to the NCAA Super Regionals

TICKET AND FAN INFORMATION
Tickets will be available at the entrance each day. Cash and card will be accepted.

Ticket Prices
Adults: $15
Seniors 60+: $10
Students with ID: $10
Children ages 2-12: $5
Children under 2: Free

Venue: Jim McLeod Field
Address: 1600 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS
Restrooms: Green building on the first base side
Pets: No pets allowed

REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 14
Game 1: No. 1 Belhaven vs. No. 4 Westminster (Pa.), 11:00 a.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Emory vs. No. 3 Berry, 1:30 p.m.

Friday, May 15
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 16
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 11:00 a.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1:30 p.m., if necessary

THE REGIONAL AT A GLANCE
The Belhaven Regional brings together four teams that arrive in different ways but with the same opportunity in front of them.

Belhaven earned the No. 1 seed after winning the Collegiate Conference of the South regular season and tournament titles, putting the Blazers back into the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season. Emory enters as the No. 2 seed after earning one of the 22 at-large bids into the field and reaching the postseason for the second straight year. Berry comes in as the No. 3 seed after winning its fifth straight Southern Athletic Association Championship, while Westminster earned the No. 4 seed after capturing its third consecutive Presidents' Athletic Conference title.

There is also a mix of familiar and unfamiliar history in the field. Belhaven has never faced Westminster or Emory in softball and is 5-5 all-time against Berry. Emory is 17-12 all-time against Berry and has never played Westminster. Westminster has not faced any of the three teams in program history.

THE TEAMS
No. 1 Belhaven Blazers

Record: 37-9
Conference: Collegiate Conference of the South
Bid: Automatic qualifier, CCS Champions
NPI: No. 14
Opening Game: Thursday vs. Westminster (Pa.), 11:00 a.m.

Belhaven enters the regional with the momentum of a championship team and the added energy of hosting an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history.

The Blazers won the CCS regular season title with a 15-1 league record, then followed it by winning five straight elimination-bracket games to claim their second consecutive CCS Tournament Championship. After dropping their tournament opener to Maryville, the Blazers responded with wins over Covenant, Piedmont, Maryville, and two victories over Huntingdon to secure the automatic bid. Belhaven hit .368 during the CCS Tournament, scored 49 runs in six games, and finished the week with a .444 on-base percentage and .497 slugging percentage.  

That offensive surge was not a one-week surprise. Belhaven has been one of the top offensive teams in the regional all season, hitting .347 with 427 hits, 332 runs, 99 doubles, 16 triples, 32 home runs, and 300 RBI. The Blazers also carry a .433 on-base percentage and .532 slugging percentage into the NCAA Tournament.  

Maryanna Guy has been one of the anchors of the lineup, entering the regional with a .432 batting average, 60 hits, 15 doubles, nine home runs, 49 RBI, and a .748 slugging percentage. Melissa Lopera is hitting .405 with 47 hits, 38 runs, 10 doubles, five home runs, and 35 RBI, while Kaleigh Steverson has added a .385 average, 57 hits, 11 doubles, seven home runs, and 36 RBI. Grace Langston, Ellie Williamson, Liberty Gillihan, Reagan Bryan, and Lauren Dunbar give Belhaven depth throughout the order.  

In the circle, Macy Funderburk has helped lead the Blazers back to the national tournament. The junior was named NFCA Division III Pitcher of the Week after going 5-0 during the CCS Tournament and earning tournament MVP honors for the second straight season. She worked 32.0 innings in the tournament, striking out 22 while posting a 1.97 ERA.  

For the season, Funderburk is 15-4 with a 1.83 ERA and 100 strikeouts across 92.0 innings. Belhaven's staff also includes CCS Rookie Pitcher of the Year AR Sharp, who is 9-0 with a 3.12 ERA, Karley Rouse at 8-4, and Laura Beth NeSmith with a 1.75 ERA across 15 appearances.  

Fan Storyline: Belhaven has the deepest offense in the field and is playing at home in an NCAA Regional for the first time. The Blazers' ability to score in bunches makes them dangerous in any inning.
 

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No. 2 Emory Eagles

Record: 25-12
Conference: University Athletic Association
Bid: At-large selection, UAA runner-up
NPI: No. 25
Opening Game: Thursday vs. Berry, 1:30 p.m.

Emory is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and the 18th time in program history.

The Eagles earned one of the 22 at-large bids after finishing 25-12 overall and 13-4 in UAA play. Emory reached the UAA Championship series against Washington University in St. Louis, taking the middle game of the series 2-1 before falling in the decisive third game. In the three-game UAA Championship series, the Eagles hit .247 and held a 3.33 ERA against a strong Washington squad.  

Emory brings a balanced lineup led by senior Ashley Chu, who was named First Team All-UAA after hitting .416 with 52 hits, 33 runs, and 11 stolen bases. Chu also became the program's all-time hits leader during the season. Ella Hoyle, another First Team All-UAA selection, has supplied the power and production with a .387 average, three home runs, 31 RBI, a .477 on-base percentage, and a .541 slugging percentage.  

Ellie Zerr adds another run-producing bat, entering with a .348 average, four home runs, 27 RBI, and a .522 slugging percentage. Lillian Ware, Addison Kwong, Megan Sutton, and Shea Johnson give the Eagles additional balance in a lineup that has hit .326 as a team with 346 hits, 216 runs, 54 doubles, 10 triples, and 13 home runs.  

The Eagles' pitching staff is led by freshman Sydney Thune and senior Mackenzie Duford. Thune, a First Team All-UAA selection, is 9-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 70 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .216 average. Duford, the 2025 UAA Pitcher of the Year and a Second Team All-UAA honoree this season, is 8-4 with a 3.17 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and three saves across 86.0 innings.  

Emory also has postseason experience and familiarity with Berry. The Eagles are 17-12 all-time against the Vikings.

Fan storyline: Emory has the tournament experience, an elite leadoff hitter in Chu, and a strong one-two pitching option with Thune and Duford. The Eagles may be the at-large team in the field, but their resume makes them a serious threat.
 

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No. 3 Berry Vikings

Record: 30-13
Conference: Southern Athletic Association
Bid: Automatic qualifier, SAA Champions
NPI: No. 40
Opening Game: Thursday vs. Emory, 1:30 p.m.

Berry arrives in Jackson as one of the most battle-tested teams in the regional.

The Vikings won their fifth straight SAA Championship by taking four consecutive elimination games, capped by two wins over top-seeded Trinity on the final day of the tournament. Berry won the first championship game 3-1 behind a complete-game effort from Ava Fouts, then followed with a 2-0 win as freshman JJ Sweat threw a complete-game shutout to seal the title.

Sweat was named SAA Tournament MVP, while Fouts, Elly Bennett, and Katelyn Boman also earned All-Tournament honors.

Berry's numbers show a team that can win in different ways. The Vikings are hitting .315 with 359 hits, 250 runs, 62 doubles, 15 home runs, and 219 RBI. They also bring one of the strongest defensive profiles in the regional with a .968 fielding percentage and 31 double plays turned.  

Elly Bennett leads the lineup with a .431 batting average, 59 hits, 38 runs, 14 doubles, and a .491 on-base percentage. Lauren Cothern, the SAA Athlete of the Year, enters with a .368 average, 49 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBI, and a .594 slugging percentage. Fouts also helps herself offensively, hitting .362 with 54 hits, 38 runs, and 19 RBI. Erica Bennett adds a .357 average, 41 hits, 24 RBI, and a .479 on-base percentage.  

In the circle, Berry leans on Sweat and Fouts. Sweat is 13-4 with a 1.47 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 11 complete games, and six shutouts. Fouts has carried a major workload, going 15-7 with 19 complete games and 72 strikeouts across 137.0 innings.  

The Vikings open against an Emory team they know well historically. Emory leads the all-time series 17-12, but Berry enters the weekend with the confidence of a championship run that required four straight wins under elimination pressure.

Fan storyline: Berry is coming off one of the most dramatic conference tournament runs in the field. The Vikings have already shown they can win with their season on the line, and their defense and pitching give them a chance to stay in any game.
 

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No. 4 Westminster (Pa.) Titans

Record: 30-9
Conference: Presidents' Athletic Conference
Bid: Automatic qualifier, PAC Champions
NPI: No. 64
Opening Game: Thursday vs. Belhaven, 11:00 a.m.

Westminster (PA) may be the No. 4 seed, but the Titans enter the regional with one of the most impressive resumes in the field.

The Titans won their third straight PAC Championship with a 4-0 victory over Geneva in the title game, becoming the first PAC program to win three straight league titles since Bethany won six in a row from 1999-2005. Westminster is making its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and has reached the 30-win mark for the fourth time in program history.

The Titans also swept the PAC's major postseason awards. Morgan O'Brien was named Player of the Year, Cheyenne Piper earned Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, Kylie Anthony was named Newcomer of the Year, and longtime head coach Jan Reddinger was selected Coach of the Year.

Westminster enters with the best team batting average in the regional at .363. The Titans have totaled 375 hits, 241 runs, 79 doubles, 16 triples, 11 home runs, and 215 RBI while carrying a .427 on-base percentage and .502 slugging percentage.  

O'Brien has been one of the top hitters in the country, batting .500 with 57 hits, 38 runs, 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 42 RBI, and a .519 on-base percentage. Faith Jones is hitting .421 with 51 hits, 18 doubles, and 41 runs, while Lily Jordan brings major run production with a .410 average, eight home runs, 49 RBI, and a .735 slugging percentage. Ava Karpa and Kylie Anthony are also hitting above .390, giving Westminster a lineup with high-end production throughout the order.  

Piper gives the Titans a true ace in the circle. She is 18-3 with a 1.73 ERA, 180 strikeouts, 17 complete games, seven shutouts, and two saves. Natalie Davis has also been a key piece, going 10-5 with a 2.98 ERA across 84.2 innings. As a staff, Westminster owns a 2.28 ERA and has held opponents to a .241 batting average.  

Defensively, Westminster has been the cleanest team in the field by the numbers. The Titans own a .979 fielding percentage in 39 games.  

Westminster has never played Belhaven, Emory, or Berry in program history, making this weekend a completely new stage against a completely new regional field.

Fan storyline: Westminster has the top batting average in the field, the cleanest defense, and one of the best pitchers in Division III in Piper. The Titans are a dangerous No. 4 seed.
 

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PLAYERS TO WATCH
Maryanna Guy, Belhaven
Guy has been Belhaven's top offensive producer, hitting .432 with 60 hits, nine home runs, 49 RBI, and a .748 slugging percentage. She also hit .550 during the CCS Tournament.    

Macy Funderburk, Belhaven
Funderburk went 5-0 in the CCS Tournament and enters the regional with a 15-4 record, 1.83 ERA, and 100 strikeouts.  

Ashley Chu, Emory
Chu leads Emory with a .416 batting average, 52 hits, 33 runs, and 11 stolen bases. She also became the Eagles' all-time hits leader this season.  

Ella Hoyle, Emory
Hoyle gives the Eagles a veteran run producer with a .387 average, three home runs, 31 RBI, and a .541 slugging percentage.  

Elly Bennett, Berry
Bennett leads Berry with a .431 batting average, 59 hits, 38 runs, 14 doubles, and a .491 on-base percentage.  

JJ Sweat, Berry
Sweat enters with a 13-4 record, 1.47 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 11 complete games, and six shutouts. She also threw a complete-game shutout to clinch the SAA title.  

Morgan O'Brien, Westminster
The PAC Player of the Year is hitting .500 with 57 hits, 42 RBI, 38 runs, and a .719 slugging percentage.  

Cheyenne Piper, Westminster
The two-time PAC Pitcher of the Year is 18-3 with a 1.73 ERA and 180 strikeouts.  

MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Belhaven's lineup vs. Cheyenne Piper
Thursday's opener features Belhaven's high-powered offense against Westminster's ace. The Blazers have 32 home runs and a .532 slugging percentage, while Piper has struck out 180 hitters and held opponents to a .191 batting average.    

Emory's experience vs. Berry's momentum
Emory has the deeper NCAA Tournament history and a 17-12 all-time record against Berry, but the Vikings are coming off four straight elimination-game wins to capture the SAA title.

Westminster's defense vs. regional pressure
The Titans have committed only 21 errors all season and own a .979 fielding percentage. In a regional where one defensive mistake can change a game, that could matter.  

Berry's pitching depth vs. a long weekend
Berry has two pitchers capable of carrying games in Fouts and Sweat. That is especially valuable in a double-elimination format where teams may need to win multiple games in one day.  

BY THE NUMBERS
Best team batting average: Westminster, .363
Most runs scored: Belhaven, 332
Most home runs: Belhaven, 32
Best team ERA: Westminster, 2.28
Most strikeouts by a pitcher: Cheyenne Piper, Westminster, 180
Best fielding percentage: Westminster, .979
Most double plays turned: Berry, 31
Most wins by a pitcher: Cheyenne Piper, Westminster, 18
Most RBI: Maryanna Guy, Belhaven and Lily Jordan, Westminster, 49
Highest individual batting average: Morgan O'Brien, Westminster, .500

WHAT FANS SHOULD KNOW
This regional has a little bit of everything.

Belhaven brings the host-site energy, a deep lineup, and a team that just won five straight games with its season on the line. Emory brings postseason experience, an at-large resume, and one of the best leadoff hitters in the field. Berry brings championship momentum after a gritty elimination-bracket run. Westminster brings the top batting average in the regional, one of the best pitchers in the country, and a defense that has been nearly spotless all season.

For fans coming to McLeod Field, Thursday sets the tone with two strong opening matchups. Friday is where the regional can turn quickly, with one team eliminated and another moving within one win of the Super Regionals. By Saturday, the field will be down to two teams, with the regional championship on the line in Jackson.

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