Softball Headed to Pennsylvania for NCAA Tourney; Will Face Cortland State in Opener

WESTFIELD, Mass. –  Westfield State University will face SUNY-Cortland in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball tournament in a four-team pod at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa.

Host Moravian faces Bowdoin (Me.) College in the other first round game of the double-elimination pod.

The pod is a four-team, double-elimination format similar to the MASCAC's final four.   Pending final schedule from the NCAA and host site (and weather), the Owls will play a single game on Thursday, and then advance into a winners or loser's bracket for Friday, which will feature a winners game, a losers game and an elimination game.   Saturday would be the championship round with 1 or 2 games as required.

Additional info on game times, ticket prices, and live coverage will be posted as it is announced by the NCAA and the host site.

With Westfield State's graduation slated for Friday, opposite the tournament schedule, Westfield State's administration will host a mini-graduation ceremony for the team's four graduating seniors on Tuesday at noon in Scanlon Banquet hall.

Owls' softball's Mackenzie Mike and Sarah Hough will graduate with degrees in psychology, while Ella Malanson and Mia Alfonso will receive their degrees in elementary education.

Provost Dr. William Salka will officiate the Ceremony, with President Dr. Linda Thompson attending.

SUNY-Cortland (25-15) was an automatic qualifier as the SUNYAC Champs.   Bowdoin (27-9) earned one of 22 at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament.

Moravian (32-8) is an automatic qualifier to the NCAA's as the Landmark Conference champ.

Westfield is making it's third-ever trip to the NCAA's, but first since 1983.   Westfield played in the inaugural 1982 Division III tournament  'final four' of the softball championship, finishing third in the nation that year.