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.Â
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Wednesday, May 6Â (Game 1); TV: ESPN+Â
Game 1 – (4) Presbyterian vs. (5) Gardner-Webb, 5:00pm
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Thursday, May 7Â (Games 2-4); TV: ESPN+Â
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)Â
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Friday, May 8Â (Games 5-7); TV: ESPN+Â
Game 5 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 12:00pm
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30pm (elimination)Â
Game 7 - Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:00pm (elimination)Â
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Saturday, May 9Â - Championship Day (Games 8-9); TV: ESPN+Â
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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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.Â
 Â
Wednesday, May 6Â (Game 1); TV: ESPN+Â
Game 1 – (4) Presbyterian vs. (5) Gardner-Webb, 5:00pm
 Â
Thursday, May 7Â (Games 2-4); TV: ESPN+Â
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)Â
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Friday, May 8Â (Games 5-7); TV: ESPN+Â
Game 5 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 12:00pm
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30pm (elimination)Â
Game 7 - Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:00pm (elimination)Â
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Saturday, May 9Â - Championship Day (Games 8-9); TV: ESPN+Â
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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