KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced the official bracket and pairings for the 2022 Softball Championship. The double elimination tournament will take place May 4-7, hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
 
Washburn clinched the top seed in the championship after being crowned the 2022 regular season champions with a record of 24-2 in the MIAA and 42-11 overall. This is Washburn’s third MIAA regular season title and first since 2018. The Ichabods ended their regular season campaign on a 22-game win streak.
 
Washburn will take on No. 8 seed Emporia State to open the 2022 Championship at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The Hornets claimed the final spot in the tournament with a 13-13 record in the MIAA and went 24-28 overall.
 
Next to take the field at Gerry Pinkston Stadium will be No. 4 seed Missouri Western against No. 5 seed Northeastern State at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Griffons finished 17-9 in the MIAA and 27-20 overall while the RiverHawks went 16-10 in the league and 28-23 overall.
 
Rogers State was tabbed the No. 3 seed after going 20-6 against MIAA opponents while posting a 43-9 overall record. The Hillcats will face No. 6 seed Missouri Southern at 4 p.m. on May 4. The Lions went 14-12 in the MIAA and 26-23 overall this season.
 
In the final contest of the championship’s opening round is set for 6:30 p.m. and will feature No. 2 Central Oklahoma and No. 7 seed Nebraska Kearney. The Bronchos finished the regular season with a 23-3 league record and went 44-8 overall. The Lopers own a MIAA record of 13-13 and finished 23-25 overall.
 
The battle for the 2022 title will take place Saturday, May 7 at 1:30 p.m. The tournament’s champion will become the Association’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Central Region Tournament, set for May 12-14.
 
For tournament information and the complete game schedule for the 2022 MIAA Softball Championship, visit the tournament’s championship central page, found here.