SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League announced the 2021 Softball Championship presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare bracket Saturday afternoon, with South Dakota State earning the No. 1 seed following its first league title in program history.
The six-team tournament will be played May 12-15 at Tharaldson Park at the Ellig Sports Complex in Fargo, N.D. First round games will be played on Wednesday as single elimination contests. The remainder of the championship will be double elimination with the championship game being held on Saturday.
The top two seeds in this year's Summit League Championship event received byes into Thursday's semifinal round. Joining the Jackrabbits with a first round bye will be No. 2 seed, Omaha.
Rounding out the six-team field will be No. 3 seed North Dakota State, No. 4 seed and league newcomer Kansas City, No. 5 seed South Dakota and No. 6 seed North Dakota.
First pitch of the 2021 Summit League Tournament will take place at 3 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday when No. 4 seed Kansas City takes on No. 5 seed South Dakota, with the winner advancing to play top-seeded South Dakota State on Thursday. Third-seeded North Dakota State and sixth-seeded North Dakota will square off in Wednesday's second game at approximately 5:30 p.m. (CT), with the winner advancing to play No. 2 seed Omaha.
Thursday's semifinal games will begin at noon (CT), with the two victorious schools advancing to Friday's winner's bracket contest. The two losing schools will play at approximately 5 p.m. (CT) Thursday in a win or go home game. Friday's winner's bracket game will be played at 1 p.m. with the loser having to play at approximately 3:30 p.m. to earn a spot in Saturday's championship.
First pitch for Saturday's championship game will be at 1 p.m. (CT) with an if necessary game at approximately 3:30 p.m. (CT). The Summit League Champion will earn the League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
All games will be streamed live on thesummitleague.org/watch and Midco Sports Network.
Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 12th
G1: (4) Kansas City vs. (5) South Dakota | 3 p.m. CT
G2: (3) North Dakota State vs. (6) North Dakota | 5:30 p.m. CT
Thursday, May 13th
G3: (1) South Dakota State vs. G1 Winner | 12 p.m. CT
G4: (2) Omaha vs. G2 Winner | 2:30 p.m. CT
G5: G3 Loser vs. G4 Loser | 5 p.m. CT
Friday, May 14th
G6: G3 Winner vs. G4 Winner | 1 p.m. CT
G7: G6 Loser vs. G5 Winner | 3:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 15th
G8: G6 Winner vs. G7 Winner | 1 p.m. CT
G9: If Necessary | 3:30 p.m. CT
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