ASHLAND — For the sixth time in seven postseasons, Southern Oregon University will host an NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round bracket when the 48-team tournament begins May 12-15.

The Raiders were among 10 hosts named Thursday by the national selection committee, which awarded bids based on rankings, geography and suitable facilities. Two sites will feature four-team brackets and eight will have five-team brackets.

SOU will learn how many and which opponents are headed to University Field when the selection show takes place at 3 p.m. next Wednesday.

This will be the second time the Raiders play the Opening Round in Ashland. The tournament was held at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford the first four times they hosted.

SOU was on the road for the Opening Round last season for the first time since 2017 but advanced to the NAIA World Series anyway. This year’s World Series is scheduled for May 22-28, to be played again in Columbus, Ga.

The Raiders were No. 4 in Wednesday’s final NAIA Top 25. They’re 44-6 overall entering the Cascade Conference Tournament in Klamath Falls, where they’ll be the No. 2 seed and play their opener at 4:30 p.m. Friday.