Kansas City, Mo.- It was Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM when the Blue Mountain Christian University softball team learned it had earned an at-large bid into the 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, marking the first national tournament appearance in program history.
The Toppers will travel to Oklahoma City for the Opening Round hosted by Oklahoma City University. 
The Stars enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Oklahoma City Opening Round and are currently ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Coaches Poll. 
Oklahoma City has become synonymous with NAIA softball, hosting the NAIA Opening Rounds every season since the tournament format was introduced in 2013.
Blue Mountain Christian enters the five-team bracket as the No. 3 seed and will open tournament play on Monday, May 11 at 4:00 PM CST against No. 2 seed Grand View University. 
Also joining the field are No. 4 seed University of British Columbia and No. 5 seed Williams Baptist University, a familiar opponent for the Toppers after meeting earlier this season.
The national tournament berth adds another chapter to what has already been a historic 2026 campaign for BMCU softball. 
Under Head Coach Matt Brunet, the Toppers have continued a steady rise over the past three seasons. Brunet guided the program to 23 wins during his first season in 2024 before improving to 25 victories in 2025. 
This season, the Toppers soared to a program-record 38-15-1 overall record while earning the program's first-ever trip to the national postseason.
Throughout the season, the Toppers established a new standard for the program by breaking 17 team single-season records, while nine individual records have either already fallen or are expected to be broken by the conclusion of postseason play.
Leading the way offensively has been junior third baseman Kelsey Camp, who broke the program's single-season RBI record and currently sits at 49 RBI on the year. 
Camp earned Second Team All-SSAC honors and was also selected to the 2026 SSAC All-Tournament Team following her standout season.
Center fielder Anna Harrison has also turned in one of the most decorated seasons in program history. 
Harrison earned First Team All-SSAC honors, received a Gold Glove award, and was named to the Champions of Character Team during the 2026 season. 
Nationally, Harrison ranks fifth in the NAIA with 52 stolen bases, a program record she broke midway through the year. 
She also shattered the BMCU single-season runs scored record with 60 runs, a total that currently leads the nation.
At the plate, the Toppers have been solid throughout the season offensively. BMCU owns a .327 team batting average along with a .397 on-base percentage and a .438 slugging percentage. 
First baseman Aspen Teague leads the team offensively with a .408 batting average.
The pitching staff has provided consistency throughout the season as well, combining for a 2.97 team ERA with 144 strikeouts. 
Junior pitcher Madison Montgomery from McNairy, Tennessee, leads the staff with a 2.50 ERA.
Nationally, the Toppers rank seventh in the NAIA in stolen bases and 23rd in RBI, showcasing the balanced offensive attack that has fueled their historic season.
BMCU Athletic Director Curt Fowler praised both the team and the leadership of Coach Brunet following the historic announcement.
"What Coach Brunet and these young women have accomplished this season has been incredible to watch," said Fowler. "This team has represented Blue Mountain Christian University with tremendous character, toughness, and unity all season long. Making the NAIA National Opening Round for the first time in program history is a special moment for our athletic department, and we are proud of the way this program continues to grow under Coach Brunet's leadership."
BMCU President Barbara McMillin also praised the historic season and the culture surrounding the program.
"The outstanding leadership of our coaches and the exemplary effort of every player have combined to create this year's stellar team," said McMillin. "They are in every way a class act!"
"I am so proud of this team and the way they came together as a family," said Brunet. "They put their personal agendas aside and decided to accomplish something special. I am humbled and honored to be their coach and can't wait to watch them represent BMCU in Oklahoma City."
 
Links for Opening Round:
Game Schedule
Oklahoma City Visitors Guide
 
 
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