CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The No. 3-seeded University of North Georgia softball team will open play at the 2026 NCAA Division II Softball Championship on Thursday against No. 6 seed McKendree at Frost Stadium at Warner Park.

North Georgia advanced to the championship site for the second consecutive season after hosting both the Southeast Regional and Super Regional in Dahlonega.

The Nighthawks rebounded from an opening-game loss to Lincoln Memorial in the Southeast Regional by winning four straight games to claim the regional title. North Georgia then swept Francis Marion in a best-of-three Super Regional series to earn its spot in Chattanooga.

North Georgia is led by NFCA Division II Player of the Year Sydnee Reaves, who ranks among the nation's leaders in batting average, hits, RBI and home runs this season.

McKendree reached the championship finals after defeating Rockhurst and Missouri S&T in the Midwest Regional before sweeping No. 1 seed Indianapolis in the Super Regional round.

North Georgia holds a 4-0 all-time record against McKendree. The last meeting between the two programs came in 2020, when the Nighthawks earned a 14-1 victory.

The 2026 NCAA Division II Softball Championship begins Thursday, May 28, and runs through Wednesday, June 3, at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.