KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the bids for the Opening Round of the NAIA Softball tournament, the league office announced Tuesday night. Davenport University will host the Davenport Bracket at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex as the No. 2 seed. Southeastern (Fla.) will be the No. 1, Olivet Nazarene will be the No. 3 seed and Indiana Wesleyan will round out the bracket as the No. 4 seed. The Panthers will open up their bid against No. 3 Olivet Nazarene Monday, May 16 with Southeastern (Fla.) and Indiana Wesleyan squaring off.

The four teams will take part in a four-team, double elimination playoff with the winner heading to the  NAIA World Series in Sioux City, Iowa. The Panthers will look to secure their first-ever trip to the World Series and will see only one familiar foe from their 2016 season in Southeastern (Fla.). The Panthers and Fire met on their Spring Trip in Clermont, Florida where the Fire earned a tough 1-0 decision over the Panthers on February 27.