Three Heart Teams Selected in 2026 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round Field
The NAIA has announced the 46-team field for the 2026 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round, with three programs from the Heart of America Athletic Conference earning bids to the national tournament. Missouri Baptist University, Mount Mercy University, and William Woods University will represent the Heart in Opening Round action May 11–14 at campus host sites across the country.
Each Opening Round site will feature a double-elimination format, with six sites hosting five-team brackets and four sites hosting four-team brackets. When the Opening Round concludes, 10 teams will advance to the 2026 Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho, beginning May 22 and continuing through May 30.
Notably, the Heart Conference had three teams selected into the national tournament field, highlighted by Heart Conference Tournament Champion Mount Mercy University earning the conference's automatic berth.
Opening Round games across the nation will stream free on the Urban Edge Network, with all broadcasts produced by the host institutions.
Missouri Baptist University – No. 2 Seed
Williamsburg, Kentucky Opening Round
First Game: No. 2 Missouri Baptist vs. No. 3 William Carey (Miss.) — May 11, Time TBD
Overall Record: 39-10
NAIA Coaches' Poll Ranking: No. 7
Conference Finish: At-Large Bid
Mount Mercy University – No. 4 Seed
Upland, Indiana Opening Round
First Game: No. 4 Mount Mercy vs. No. 5 Shawnee State (Ohio) — May 11, Time TBD
Overall Record: 38-13
Conference Finish: Heart Conference Tournament Champion
William Woods University – No. 5 Seed
Kingsport, Tennessee Opening Round
First Game: No. 5 William Woods vs. No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan — May 11, Time TBD
Overall Record: 29-21
Conference Finish: Heart Conference Tournament Runner-Up