Hickory, NC - The 2026 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship is set for May 7–9 at McCrorie Family Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina, with eight teams battling for the league title and the SAC's automatic bid. Tickets are $14 for general admission, $7 for youth/seniors/military (under 12, 65+, with military ID), and $2 for college students with a valid ID. Parking is free, and live stats and a live stream will be available for every game (FloSports subscription required).
Lincoln Memorial enters championship weekend riding momentum after taking care of business in the opening round, winning two games against Mars Hill to punch its ticket to Hickory. LMU will open the championship bracket on Thursday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m. against top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne, followed by Anderson vs. Carson-Newman at 4:30 p.m. Friday's schedule features Game 3 at 10:30 a.m. (winners of Games 1 and 2), Game 4 at 1:00 p.m. (losers of Games 1 and 2), and Game 5 at 3:30 p.m. Saturday's championship day begins with Game 6 at 12:00 p.m., with Game 7 (if necessary) scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne comes in as the No. 1 seed and host of the championship weekend after capturing the regular season crown. The Bears' resume is built on consistency on both sides of the ball, and they earned home-field advantage for the tournament by finishing at the top of the standings. LMU has already seen Lenoir-Rhyne this spring, with the Railsplitters dropping a road doubleheader in Hickory (0–11 and 6–9). That experience,e especially against an LR lineup that can pressure defenses and capitalize on big innings, will be a major point of emphasis heading into Thursday's opener.
On the other side of the bracket, the matchup between Anderson and Carson-Newman will feature two of the league's most complete teams. Anderson enters as the No. 2 seed and has been one of the steadiest conference clubs all season, while Carson-Newman, the No. 3 seed, has proven it can win in multiple ways. Lincoln Memorial faced Carson-Newman earlier this year and split the doubleheader in Harrogate, winning the opener 2–1 before falling 12–2 in game two. LMU also traveled to Anderson and came up short in both games (3–5 and 0–6), giving the Railsplitters plenty of familiarity with the quality arms and offensive approaches they could see again if the bracket lines up.
For LMU, the path to Hickory was fueled by a confident, aggressive approach at the plate and sharp pitching when it mattered most. The Railsplitters closed the opening weekend by decisively handling Mars Hill, including a five-inning 13–0 win that showcased everything clicking at once: timely extra-base hits, pressure on the basepaths, and clean defense. In that clincher, Gracie Palmer delivered her first home run of the season, and Kristin Griffin turned in a momentum-saving play to end the fifth with a standout catch on the warning track while running into the wall. In the circle, Jasmine Kaylor authored a true gem, allowing just one hit while working efficiently through five innings on just 60 pitches to help LMU secure the mercy-rule victory and move on.
The Railsplitters will need a full-package effort immediately against Lenoir-Rhyne, with the winner moving into Friday morning's Game 3 and the loser dropping into the elimination side of the bracket. Either way, LMU has already proven over the last few weeks that it can respond, reset, and win big games, exactly what championship weekend demands.
