GREENVILLE, S.C. – Nationally ranked Francis Marion University enters the 2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship as the top seed for the third time in as many years. The championship starts on Thursday, April 23 with four play-in contests at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C.
Francis Marion, the east division champion is currently ranked 12th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll with an overall record of 39-10, going 23-5 in Conference Carolinas contests. They await the winner of eighth seed Belmont Abbey College and ninth seed King University. Belmont Abbey posted an overall record of 25-21, going 17-11 in league games while King owns a 30-24 overall record and 16-12 mark in league games.
Young Harris College is the second seed. The Mountain Lions went 23-5 in Conference Carolinas games and are 31-15 overall. They will face the winner of seventh seed University of Mount Olive and 10th seed Barton College. The Trojans finished with an overall record of 27-23, going 16-12 in conference games while Barton is 21-27 overall and 10-18 in conference contests.
Southwest division champion Southern Wesleyan University is the third seed with a league mark of 22-5, going 34-12 overall. The Warriors await the winner of sixth seed Chowan University and 11th seed Erskine College. The Hawks are 29-18 overall and posted a 17-11 mark in league games while Erskine is 13-29 overall and 11-17 in league games.
North Greenville University, the northwest division champions, earned the fourth seed. The Trailblazers went 31-19 overall and 20-8 in conference games and will take on the winner of fifth seed UNC Pembroke and 12th seed Converse University. The Braves own an overall record of 33-17 overall and 20-8 mark in league play while Converse is 14-36 overall and 10-18 in Conference Carolinas contests.
The tournament opens with the four play-in games on Thursday. The first two contests start at 11:00 a.m. with the next two starting at 1:30 p.m. The first round then follows with two games at 4:00 p.m. and two more at 6:30 p.m.
The quarterfinals of the championship bracket will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Friday with elimination games at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturday, will feature the winners’ bracket semifinal at 12:00 p.m., an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. and another elimination game at 5:00 p.m. for the right to advance to the final in the double-elimination tournament The championship final is slated for 12:00 p.m. on Sunday with the “if-necessary” game at 2:30 p.m.
The bracket for the Conference Carolinas Softball Championship was determined through the use of KPI with the caveat that division champions were guaranteed to be seeded in the top four.
Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network and Hudl at ConferenceCarolinas.com/watch. Fans can purchase an all-tournament pass for $30 or a daily pass for $10.
Tickets must be purchased through Conference Carolinas’ partnership with HomeTown Ticketing. Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket and Tyger River Park are available at the links below.
CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE | BRACKET | LIVE VIDEO | TICKETS
2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship
Tyger River Park | Duncan, South Carolina
Play-in Round – Thursday, April 23
Game 1: No. 8 Belmont Abbey vs. No. 9 King, 11:00 a.m. (Field 1)
Game 2: No. 7 Mount Olive vs. No. 10 Barton, 11:00 a.m. (Field 4)
Game 3: No. 5 UNC Pembroke vs. No. 12 Converse, 1:30 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 4: No. 6 Chowan vs. No. 11 Erskine, 1:30 p.m. (Field 4)
First Round - Thursday, April 23
Game 5: No. 1 Francis Marion vs. Winner of game 1, 4:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 6: No. 2 Young Harris vs. Winner of game 2, 4:00 p.m. (Field 4)
Game 7: No. 4 North Greenville vs. Winner of game 3, 6:30 p.m. (Field 4)
Game 8: No. 3 Southern Wesleyan vs. Winner of game 4, 6:30 p.m. (Field 1)
Second Round - Friday, April 24
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 12:00 p.m. (Field 4)
Game 11: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 12: Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 2:30 p.m. (Field 4)
Game 13: Loser Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 5:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 14: Loser Game 10 vs. Winner Game 12, 5:00 p.m. (Field 4)
Semifinal Round - Saturday, April 25
Game 15: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 17: Loser Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, 5:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Championship - Sunday, April 26
Game 18: Winner Game 16 vs. Winner Game 17, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 19: Winner Game 17 vs. Loser Game 18, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1; If Necessary)