Softball to Play Virginia Tech in Tuscaloosa Regional of NCAA Tournament

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University softball will play Virginia Tech Friday in the 2025 NCAA Division I Softball Championship, as announced on the ESPN NCAA Softball Selection Show Sunday night.

Belmont earned a No. 3 seed in the Tuscaloosa regional, joined by national seed and regional host Alabama, No. 2 seed Virginia Tech and No. 4 seed Jackson State.

First pitch between Belmont and Virginia Tech is scheduled for Friday, May 16 at 2:30 p.m. CT from Rhoads Stadium.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

Belmont (40-14) defeated Bradley, Northern Iowa, and Southern Illinois in succession to win the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship and earn the program's first bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Bruins, which set program records for regular season victories and conference victories, played one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules.

Belmont recorded seven Top 100 wins, including victories over Arizona State, Purdue, and a pair over Maryland.

Belmont leads the MVC in 12 statistical team categories, including earned run average and fielding percentage.

Six Bruins earned All-MVC honors, with four being named to the MVC All-Tournament Team.

Maya Johnson emerged as one of the top stories in college softball this season. The Columbia Station, Ohio native ranks among NCAA leaders in 13 statistical categories, including first nationally in strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, strikeout-to-walk ratio, WHIP, walks allowed per seven innings, and shutouts.

The left-handed pitcher was named MVC Pitcher of the Year and MVC Tournament Most Valuable Player; she had 35 strikeouts and pitched two complete games in the MVC Tournament.

Belmont also boasts MVC Freshman of the Year Rylee Spindler, All-MVC position players Nicole Hughes, Baie Ensio, and Maddy Balsiger, and MVC All-Defensive Team selection Brenna Blume.

ESPN serves as the exclusive home for the entire Road to the Women's College World Series, from the NCAA Selection Show through the last out in Oklahoma City.

Ticket information for the Tuscaloosa regional will become available Monday morning.

Follow Belmont softball on social media - @BelmontSoftball on Twitter, @belmontsoftball on Instagram and Belmont Bruins Softball on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.