2026 Big South Softball Tournament Bracket Announced, Runnin’ Bulldogs Seeded Fifth
May 02, 2026 | Softball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Per release from the league office, the 2026 Big South Softball Tournament bracket has been announced, with the Gardner-Webb softball team capturing the No. 5 seed
The 2026 Softball Championship begins Wednesday, May 6, with No. 4 Presbyterian vs. No. 5 Gardner-Webb at 5:00pm, continues with three games each on Thursday and Friday, May 7-8, and concludes Saturday, May 9 with two potential Championship contests starting at 12:00pm. Every game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Big South's Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Regionals
Winthrop finished league play with a 13-4 conference record and .765 winning percentage to clinch the top seed for just the fifth time (1989-91-05-08-26), while the Eagles' 13 Big South victories are their most since 2019 (14). Two-time defending Tournament Champion and host USC Upstate is the No. 2 seed after finishing second in the standings at 12-6 (.667 winning percentage). Radford finished third at 10-8 (.556) for the No. 3 seed, while Presbyterian College and Gardner-Webb tied for fourth-place at 8-10 (.444). The Blue Hose received the No. 4 seed based on their 2-1 season series win over the Runnin' Bulldogs to push GWU to the fifth and final seed.
The Conference Championship schedule is below and is subject to change due to weather.
Wednesday, May 6 (Game 1); TV: ESPN+
Game 1 – (4) Presbyterian vs. (5) Gardner-Webb, 5:00pm
Thursday, May 7 (Games 2-4); TV: ESPN+
Game 2 – (2) USC Upstate vs. (3) Radford, 12:00pm
Game 3 – (1) Winthrop vs. Winner Game 1, 2:30pm
Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5:00pm (elimination)
Friday, May 8 (Games 5-7); TV: ESPN+
Game 5 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 12:00pm
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30pm (elimination)
Game 7 - Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:00pm (elimination)
Saturday, May 9 - Championship Day (Games 8-9); TV: ESPN+
Game 8 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 12:00pm
** Game 9 - If Necessary, same two teams from Game 8, 2:30pm
The 2026 Softball Championship begins Wednesday, May 6, with No. 4 Presbyterian vs. No. 5 Gardner-Webb at 5:00pm, continues with three games each on Thursday and Friday, May 7-8, and concludes Saturday, May 9 with two potential Championship contests starting at 12:00pm. Every game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Big South's Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Regionals
Winthrop finished league play with a 13-4 conference record and .765 winning percentage to clinch the top seed for just the fifth time (1989-91-05-08-26), while the Eagles' 13 Big South victories are their most since 2019 (14). Two-time defending Tournament Champion and host USC Upstate is the No. 2 seed after finishing second in the standings at 12-6 (.667 winning percentage). Radford finished third at 10-8 (.556) for the No. 3 seed, while Presbyterian College and Gardner-Webb tied for fourth-place at 8-10 (.444). The Blue Hose received the No. 4 seed based on their 2-1 season series win over the Runnin' Bulldogs to push GWU to the fifth and final seed.
The Conference Championship schedule is below and is subject to change due to weather.
Wednesday, May 6 (Game 1); TV: ESPN+
Game 1 – (4) Presbyterian vs. (5) Gardner-Webb, 5:00pm
Thursday, May 7 (Games 2-4); TV: ESPN+
Game 2 – (2) USC Upstate vs. (3) Radford, 12:00pm
Game 3 – (1) Winthrop vs. Winner Game 1, 2:30pm
Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5:00pm (elimination)
Friday, May 8 (Games 5-7); TV: ESPN+
Game 5 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 12:00pm
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30pm (elimination)
Game 7 - Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:00pm (elimination)
Saturday, May 9 - Championship Day (Games 8-9); TV: ESPN+
Game 8 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 12:00pm
** Game 9 - If Necessary, same two teams from Game 8, 2:30pm
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