2015 NAIA Leadoff Classic Underway in Columbus, Ga.

COLUMBUS, Ga. — The two teams that played for the NAIA national championship last May will return to the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga., topping the field of 20 programs for the NFCA’s NAIA Leadoff Classic slated for Feb. 27-March 1. Reigning national champion Auburn Montgomery and 2014 runner-up William Carey each made some history at South Commons last season, Auburn Montgomery (44-7) winning its first NAIA title in just the program’s sixth year of existence, while William Carey (52-12) reached its first-ever title game. 

The Warhawks won six of their final seven games, with their lone loss over that span coming to William Carey in the first of two title games at the double-elimination NAIA championship. It was the 23rd NAIA crown for Auburn Montgomery, which has 22 national championships in tennis to go with its one softball crown.

Two other teams in the 20-team Leadoff field that have squared off for titles in the past year are two-time defending United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) champ Lindenwood-Belleville and two-time runner-up Ave Maria. Lindenwood-Belleville (35-23-1) beat the (30-30) Gyrenes, 3-2, to claim last year’s USCAA crown.

Georgia-Gwinnett (39-10-1) was one of only two teams to defeat Lindenwood-Belleville in the 2014 postseason, topping the Lady Lynx in the Association of Independent Institutions tournament. Olivet Nazarene (49-5-1) had by far the longest stretch of dominance among Leadoff teams, going unbeaten for 46 straight games. The Tigers won 43 in a row, tied one and then won two more. Consecutive shutout losses to William Carey and the College of Idaho at the NAIA championship ended their season. Belhaven (44-17) lost to William Carey in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament and beat fellow Leadoff participant Bellevue (36-17) twice in NAIA opening round games. Bellevue put together three win streaks of five or more games last season. 

Central Methodist (43-8) lost in the NAIA opening round tournament after winning its fourth-straight Heart of America Athletic Conference title, while Lindsey Wilson (50-11) made its deepest NAIA tourney run in school history, tying for fifth nationally. USC-Beaufort (39-11) lost an one-run game to St. Thomas in the Sun Conference final one day after winning three games to stay alive in the tournament. One of those wins eliminated fellow Leadoff team Thomas (24-23) from Sun contention. Campbellsville (44-21) used a 14-game win streak to amass the most victories in a season in school history, while Oklahoma Baptist (45-17) was shut out twice by William Carey in the NAIA opening round after claiming the Sooner Athletic Conference title. Reinhardt (46-10) suffered a similar fate, falling twice to Auburn Montgomery in the NAIA postseason. 

After knocking fellow Leadoff school Park (37-11) out of the American Midwest Conference tournament en route to the crown, William Woods (40-17) fell in the NAIA opening round. LSU-Alexandria (35-3) lost only three times all season, but twice at the NAIA championship, while Friends (35-16) fell in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and Corban (26-20) scored a doubleheader sweep on the final day to finish fifth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

The 20 teams were broken down into five pools. On Friday and the first part of Saturday, each team will place three games against fellow pool particpants. Saturday evening and Sunday will feature bracket play. The top eight program advance to the Gold Bracket, the next eight to the Silver Bracket and the final four in the Copper Bracket.

For more information, including link to live stats, audio broadcasts and ticket prices please head over to the tournament central page.