With a 42-13 record, the Vikings finished the year ranked No. 4 in the final NAIA National Poll. The Vikings finished the year as regular season champions of the Southern States Athletic Conference, finishing with a 22-5 record in SSAC play. Four teams from the conference made it to the NAIA National Tournament, with three of those teams finishing in the top-10 in the final National Poll.
The other teams joining Berry in the tournament are No. 2-seed Malone (Ohio). The American Mideast Champions, the Pioneers of Malone finished the year 44-12. Malone finished the year ranked No. 17 in the final NAIA National Poll.
The Pioneers will face No. 3-seed St. Xavier (Ill.) in their opening round game. The Cougars were the regular season champions of the Chicagoland Athletic Conference and finished the year with a 39-13 record. St. Xavier finished the year ranked No. 24 in the NAIA National Poll.
Making the farthest trek to arrive in Rome, Ga. is No. 4-seed The Master's College from Santa Clarita, Calif. The Mustangs finished the year 36-20 and were a team receiving votes in the final NAIA National Poll. The Mustangs advanced to the post season after finishing as runner-up in the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament.
The Mustangs will have a first-round matchup with a team that is familiar to William R. Bowdoin Field. The No. 5-seed is Taylor University from Upland, Ind. The Trojans played a non-conference doubleheader at Berry during the regular season. The Trojans finished the year 36-17 and won the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament. Like its opponent The Master's, Taylor is also receiving votes in the NAIA National Poll.
The double-elimination tournament will start with No. 5 Taylor playing against No. 4 The Master's at noon on Tuesday. That game will be followed by No. 3 St. Xavier facing No. 2 Malone in a game slated to start at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The nightcap will feature tournament host and top-seed Berry facing the winner of the game between TU and TMC at approximately 7 p.m.
The rest of the tournament schedule is based on the outcome of subsequent games and is available below. Tickets to each one-day session (up to three games per-day) are just $10 and will be sold only at the field the day of the game. Tickets will be made available for sale one hour before the start of the first game of the day.
Berry earned the host position thanks to the SSAC. The conference put forth the bid to host the tournament and allowed the regular season champions to have the home field advantage for the Opening Round.
Site 3 (William R. Bowdoin Field) Bracket
Complete List of NAIA National Pairings
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