INDIANAPOLIS, IND -- Three Peach Belt Conference softball teams will compete for the national championship as the NCAA released the 64-team bracket on Monday morning. North Georgia, Columbus State and Lander will all compete in the Southeast Regional with UNG serving as one of the two hosts of a four-team pod.

Play will begin this Thursday, May 14 and continue through Saturday. The winners of each pod will then meet for a best-of-three regional championship series, the winner of which will advance to the national championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. The No. 5 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team earned the No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region and will host No. 4 Columbus State, No. 5 Lander and No. 8 Lincoln Memorial at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium May 14-16. The Southeast Regional's second host site will be in Florence, S.C., where No. 2 seed Francis Marion will host the No. 3, No. 6, and No. 7 seeds.

North Georgia holds a 20-6 all-time record against Lincoln Memorial. The teams met earlier this season in a March doubleheader and split the games. The Nighthawks won the opener 6-2 before the Railsplitters took game two 7-2. North Georgia opens regional play against No. 8 seed Lincoln Memorial on May 14 at 2 p.m.

Columbus State enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed. The Cougars enter the post-season with a 35-21 overall mark after finishing as the runner-up in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, falling to North Georgia 10-5 in the championship game.

The Lander softball team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history, as the Bearcats earned the No. 5 seed. The Bearcats enter postseason play with a 33-19 overall record after advancing to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals, where they fell to North Georgia over the weekend.


Southeast Regional - Dahlonega, Ga.

Thursday, May 14
2 p.m. - Game 1: No. 1 North Georgia vs. No. 8 Lincoln Memorial
4:30 p.m. - Game 2: No. 4 Columbus State vs. No. 5 Lander

Friday, May 15
Noon - Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
2:30 p.m. - Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (Elimination Game)
5 p.m. - Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (Elimination Game)

Saturday, May 16
Noon - Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5
If necessary - Game 7: Only if Game 5 winner defeats Game 6 winner

Tickets for the 2026 NCAA Division II Softball Southeast Regional can be purchased through the event website or at UNGAthletics.com/Tickets. 

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors (65+), military members, and students. Children in fifth grade and under receive free admission. Daily tickets grant access to all games scheduled for that day. A ticket or event credential will be required for entry into Lynn Cottrell Park.