#10 National Seed

Athens Regional

2026 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament · Regional Round

#10 Seed·Athens Regional

Gordon's Bats Survive Clemson's Postseason DNA

Our Pick

Georgia

CAUTIOUS

Sarah Gordon has been a National Player of the Week machine, and Tony Baldwin is in his third straight super regional run. But Clemson is the defending ACC Tournament champion with John Rittman's veteran group. UNC Greensboro has Brooklyn Shroyer — SoCon Pitcher of the Year, 1.58 ERA, 18 wins, 9 SHO — a top-50 arm hiding at the 3-seed line.

GeorgiaFAVORITE

BatSarah Gordon — National POW (D1S/SA/SI)

CircleDestin Howard — Primary returning arm

ClemsonTHREAT

BatKiley Channell — .330 BA, 44 RBI

CircleAbby Dunning / Sierra Maness (transfers)

Defending 2025 ACC Tournament champs.

UNC GreensboroTHREAT

BatKaylyn Belfield — 200+ career hits

CircleBrooklyn Shroyer — SoCon POY, 1.58 ERA, 18 W, 9 SHO

Shroyer is the sub-1.60 ERA arm that pushes hosts to rubber.

CharlestonEASY OUT

CircleMackenzie Mathis — 23 K in 20 IP, 1 ER at CAA tourney

First CAA championship in program history.

X-Factor

Whether Georgia's staff can outlast Clemson's veterans in a winners'-bracket showdown. Shroyer is the wild card — she's good enough to win Sunday outright if it gets there.

National Seed

#10

Host

Georgia

City

Athens, GA

Dates

May 15-17, 2026

Format

4-team double-elim

Bracket

Friday's first-round matchups

Game 1 — Fri 12:00 PM ET

Game 2 — Fri 2:30 PM ET

Winners meet Saturday at 2:30 PM ET. Losers play an elimination game at 12:00 PM ET. Regional championship Sunday at 12:00 PM ET, with an if-necessary game at 2:30 PM ET.

Schedule

All times Eastern

Game	Date	Time	Matchup	TV
Game 1	Fri, May 15	12:00 PM ET	#1 Georgia vs #4 Charleston	ESPN+
Game 2	Fri, May 15	2:30 PM ET	#2 Clemson vs #3 UNC Greensboro	ESPN+
Game 3	Sat, May 16	12:00 PM ET	Loser G1 vs Loser G2 (Elimination)	ESPN+
Game 4	Sat, May 16	2:30 PM ET	Winner G1 vs Winner G2	ESPN+
Game 5	Sat, May 16	5:00 PM ET	Winner G3 vs Loser G4 (Elimination)	ESPN+
Game 6	Sun, May 17	12:00 PM ET	Regional Championship	ESPN2
Game 7	Sun, May 17	2:30 PM ET	Regional Championship (if necessary)	ESPN2

Path Forward

Super Regional pairing

The Athens Regional winner advances to face the winner of the Knoxville Regional (#10 vs #7) in the Super Regional round May 21-24, hosted at the higher national seed (Tennessee). Super Regionals are best-of-three; the winner advances to the Women’s College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, May 28 - June 5.

About the Host

Georgia

Georgia hosts the Athens Regional in Athens, GA as the #10 national seed of the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. Hosting rights are awarded to the top 16 seeds, and the Georgia program earned its bid on the strength of its regular-season resume.

All games at this regional are played at the Georgia home softball venue, with first pitch on Friday, May 15 and the championship round on Sunday, May 17.