OSHKOSH, Wis. – For the fourth straight season, the UW-Oshkosh softball team heard its name called during the NCAA Division III softball bracket selection show.
The Titans earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after failing to secure the WIAC’s automatic bid, losing to UW-Stevens Point 2-1 in the conference tournament.
“When the selection show actually starts, it gets your juices flowing, gets your adrenaline going a little bit,” head softball coach Scott Beyer said. “It reminds you of the fun game we get to play and the privilege I have to coach these kids for one more weekend.”
For the first time in three years, Oshkosh won’t host a regional and instead will travel to St. Louis, where Washington University will serve as the host site. In the first round, the Titans will play Illinois College, and with a win, would advance to face the winner between WashU and Capital University.
“Our team is very excited to go on the road. We have the ability to go into someone else’s home and beat them,” Oshkosh senior infielder Haylie Wittman said.
When Scott Beyer’s group found out they were headed to St. Louis, no one was more excited than the longtime head coach.
“We’ve got a good regional because we don’t know anybody. We haven’t played anybody in that regional this season or even last season,” Beyer said. “It was really nice that we got four teams in a regional that we don’t even know who they are. It’s a clean slate. A new season.”
First pitch between Oshkosh (30-8-1) and Illinois College (33-10) is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14.
You can find the official 2026 Division III Softball Championship bracket here.
