Glendale, Ariz.- On Wednesday, the 48-team field was announced for the 45th Annual NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).  Arizona Christian Softball will head to the Klamath Falls Bracket hosted by Oregon Tech for the second year in a row.  The Firestorm will be the fourth seed in the five-team bracket and face Dickinson State in game one of the bracket action on Monday.

The Firestorm (36-13) claimed their spot in the tournament as an at-large on the strength of a GSAC Regular Season Championship.  ACU makes their third appearance in the NAIA Opening Round (2016, 25, 26).

Awaiting Arizona Christian on Monday at 11:00 am will be Dickinson State from Dickinson, ND.  The Blue Hawks (40-12) locked up their invitation to the NAIA Opening Round after winning the Frontier Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships.  DSU heads into championship play riding a 24-game win streak.

Set to face the winner of the ACU/DSU game will be host and top seed Oregon Tech (ranked number two in the NAIA).  That game will close out day one with a 4:00 pm scheduled start time.  The loser of the ACU/DSU get together will play on Tuesday in the first elimination game at 11:00 am.

All bracket winners will advance to the NAIA Softball World Series on May 21-27 in Columbus, GA.