Softball

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Saint Anselm and Adelphi have earned the top seeds in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Softball Championship, as the league announced its divisional-based bracket format on Sunday evening. 

The Hawks, who are currently ranked 19^th in the nation, posted the best record of any NE10 program this year with a 21-3 mark to claim the Northeast Division title for the third straight season. Adelphi and New Haven finished with matching 20-4 records in the Southwest Division, but the Panthers earned the top seed by taking three of four from the Chargers during the regular season. 

As announced on April 1, the NE10 Softball Championship will occur in a divisional format. For seedings and matchups for the 2021 NE10 Softball Championship, please see the schedule below for dates and times of the divisional first round, divisional semifinals, divisional final and championship final. The opening two rounds will be a single game while the division final and championship final will feature a best of three series.

Saint Anselm and Adelphi will earn first round byes as the top seeds and play on Thursday, May 6 while New Haven secured the second seed in the Southwest and will open on Tuesday. Southern Connecticut and Le Moyne both finished 11-13, but the Owls went 3-1 against the Dolphins during the season to earn the three seed. Pace, American International and Saint Rose made up the final three seeds. 

In the Northeast, Franklin Pierce earned the No. 2 seed with an 18-6 record while Assumption was third. Southern New Hampshire took the fourth seed, as Bentley, Saint Michael's and Stonehill rounded out the last three seeds. 

Each round could be impacted by the conference's COVID-19 protocols, but no bracket adjustments will be made. If a team is not available to play, it will be recorded as a "No Contest" and their opponent will advance to the next round.

2021 NE10 SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

NORTHEAST DIVISION

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

*Decided by head-to-head tiebreaker.

Tuesday, May 4^th    (Single Elimination)
Divisional First Round Games - Northeast­
Game 1NE: #5NE Bentley at #4NE SNHU, 4pm
Game 2NE: #6NE Saint Michael's at #3NE Assumption, 4pm
Game 3NE #7NE Stonehill at #2NE Franklin Pierce, 3pm 

Divisional First Round Games – Southwest
Game 1SW: #5SW Pace at #4SW  Le Moyne, 3pm
Game 2SW: #6SW AIC at #3SW Southern Connecticut, 3pm
Game 3SW: #7SW Saint Rose at #2SW New Haven, 3pm

Thursday, May 6^th    (Single Elimination)
Divisional Semifinals – Northeast
Game 4NE: Game 1NE Winner at #1NE Saint Anselm, 3pm
Game 5NE: Game 2NE Winner vs Game 3NE Winner (at highest remaining seed) 

Divisional Semifinals – Southwest
Game 4SW: Game 1SW Winner at #1SW Adelphi, 3pm
Game 5SW: Game 2SW Winner vs. Game 3SW Winner (at highest remaining seed) 

Sunday-Monday, May 9^th-10^th

Divisional Finals (Best of three series) – Northeast 
Sunday: Games 6NE & 7NE: Game 4NE Winner vs. Game 5NE Winner (at highest remaining seed)
Monday: Game 8NE (if necessary) 

Divisional Finals (Best of three series) – Southwest 
Sunday: Games 6SW & 7 SW: Game 4SW Winner vs. Game 5SW Winner (at highest remaining seed)
Monday: Game 8SW (if necessary) 

Friday-Saturday May 14^th-15^th
Championship Final (Best of three series) 
Friday: Games 1 & 2: NE Divisional Winner vs. SW Divisional Winner (at highest remaining seed)
Saturday: Game 3 (if necessary)

The highest Remaining Seed will host the Championship Final. However, if the two teams that advance to the Championship Final have the same divisional seed, the site of the final will be determined first by examining Divisional win percentage. The team with the higher win percentage in their division will host. If the teams are tied in win percentage, the team with the highest number of wins in their division will host. And finally, if the teams remain tied because they have equal number of wins, the Southwest Division has been predetermined to host.

ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete. 

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.