KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oregon Tech has earned the top-seed in the Klamath Falls Bracket of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, with four schools headed to the Basin for the event, set for May 13-16 at Stilwell Stadium.
 
Three conference tournament champions and one runner up will join the defending national runners-up, vying for a bid to the NAIA Softball World Series, May 23-29, in Columbus, Ga.
 
Two teams from the West – Vanguard University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, along with a pair of teams from Florida – St. Thomas University and Florida National University, will comprise the 5-team bracket.
 
Vanguard (40-11), from Costa Mesa, Calif., is the tournament champion of the Golden State Athletic Conference and making their second-straight Opening Round appearance. GSAC Pitcher of the Year Brianna Williams (20-5 1.46 ERA) and GSAC Freshman of the Year Kamryn Walker (.420 3 HR 37 RBI) anchor the Lions attack.
 
STU (38-10), from Miami Gardens, Fla., makes their first national tournament appearance in a decade after winning the Sun Conference tournament title. The Bobcats are led by Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year, Anna Toon (24-3 1.60 ERA) and All-Sun pick Bianca Palacios (.400 4 HR 38 RBI).
 
ERAU (38-11), from Prescott, Ariz., makes a return trip to Klamath Falls, having competed in last season's Opening Round, hosted by OIT. The Eagles are making their third-straight national tournament appearance, with the California Pacific Conference champions led by Cal Pac Player of the Year, Emma Almodoba (.444 3 HR 35 RBI) and pitcher Vanessa Brink (18-4 1.90 ERA)
 
FNU (23-22), from Hialeah, Fla., makes their first-ever trip to the national tournament after finishing as the runners-up in the Continental Athletic Conference tournament. The Conquistadors are led by the tandem of Gabi Obando (.324 4 HR 25 RBI) and Sophia White (8-8 2.44 ERA).
 
Host OIT (43-9) are making their tenth-straight Opening Round appearance and looking to extend a streak of World Series appearances to five. The Lady Owls are paced by Cascade Conference Player of the Year Kaila Mick (.480 5 HR 60 RBI) and All-America pitcher Kacie Schmidt (22-6 1.51 ERA).

Two games will be played both Monday and Tuesday, with three games set for Wednesday, followed by the bracket championship game on Thursday.
 
Admission prices are $10.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors/military and $3.00 for students. A tournament pass of $25.00 will also be available.  All games will be streamed live on the Owls Sports Network and carried live locally on 104.3/960 Sports.
 
Monday – Game 1: Seed 4 Embry-Riddle vs. No. 5-seed Florida National, 1 p.m.
Monday – Game 2: No. 2-seed Vanguard vs. No. 3-seed St. Thomas, 4 p.m.
 
Tuesday – Game 3: No. 1-seed Oregon Tech vs. Winner Game 1, 1 p.m.
Tuesday – Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4 p.m. (Loser Out)
 
Wednesday – Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 1 p.m.
Wednesday – Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 3:30 p.m. (Loser Out)
Wednesday – Game 7: Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 6 p.m. (Loser Out)
 
Thursday – Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 1 p.m. (championship)…if necessary 45 minutes after