Blue Mountain Christian softball earns first NAIA Opening Round bid
BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. — The Blue Mountain Christian University softball team learned Wednesday afternoon it had earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, marking the program’s first appearance in the tournament.
The Toppers will travel to Oklahoma City for the five-team regional hosted by Oklahoma City University. The Stars enter as the No. 1 seed and are ranked fifth in the NAIA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma City has hosted the NAIA Opening Rounds annually since 2013.
Blue Mountain Christian, seeded third, will open play Monday at 4 p.m. CST against second-seeded Grand View University. The field also includes No. 4 seed University of British Columbia and No. 5 seed Williams Baptist University, a team the Toppers faced earlier this season.
The bid caps a historic 2026 season for the Toppers, who finished with a program-record 38 wins against 15 losses and a tie. Under coach Matt Brunet, the team has steadily improved over three seasons, starting with 23 wins in 2024 and increasing to 25 in 2025.
Brunet praised his team and staff after the announcement. “What Coach Brunet and these young women have accomplished this season has been incredible to watch,” said athletic director Curt Fowler. “This team has represented Blue Mountain Christian University with tremendous character, toughness, and unity. Making the NAIA national tournament for the first time is a special milestone.”
Offensively, the Toppers have set multiple records, including breaking 17 team single-season marks. Junior third baseman Kelsey Camp leads with 49 RBIs and was named to the 2026 SSAC All-Tournament Team. Center fielder Anna Harrison earned First Team All-SSAC honors, a Gold Glove, and set a school record with 52 stolen bases, ranking fifth nationally. She also scored 60 runs, the most in program history and third in the NAIA.
At the plate, BMCU maintains a .327 team batting average, a .397 on-base percentage, and a .438 slugging percentage. First baseman Aspen Teague leads with a .408 batting average. The pitching staff has a combined 2.97 ERA, with junior Madison Montgomery posting a 2.50 ERA in 2026.
Fowler highlighted the team’s character and leadership, adding, “This is a proud moment for our athletic department, and we look forward to seeing how they perform in Oklahoma City.”
Additional resources include the game schedule and Oklahoma City visitors guide. The university’s athletic department also shared updates via their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
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