Jags selected as No. 2 seed for Oklahoma City bracket of Opening Round

The (RV) UHV softball team is heading back to familiar territory for the NAIA Softball Opening Round May 13-16.

On Tuesday, the NAIA announced the field of 48 teams vying for the Softball World Series and selected the Jaguars (32-12) as the No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City bracket, hosted by No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University (51-3) at Ann Lacy Field.

This is the Jaguars' ninth Opening Round appearance in school history and first since 2021, when they reached the program's first-ever NAIA Softball World Series.

UHV, which earned an at-large bid, opens play in the Opening Round against No. 3-seeded Freed-Hardeman (31-16) in a rematch from the Gulf Shores Invitational in March in which the Lions won, 10-7, despite the Jaguars bringing the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning.

But that was two months ago and head coach Lindsey Ortiz knows her team has grown exponentially since that tournament.

"The foundation was there at the time, but the wrinkles hadn't been ironed out at that point," Ortiz said. "I think we've really established our identity. We know who we are and what kind of ball we want to play. In that first game, we showed a lot of resiliency with a great comeback and getting the tying run to the plate. I expect an entirely different outcome going into this version of UHV vs. Freed-Hardeman."

As a team, UHV ranks in the Top 25 nationally in batting average (.340), on-base percentage (.408), slugging (.479) and stolen bases (109).

But the Jaguars are looking to bounce back after going 2-2 at the Red River Athletic Conference in which one of their losses came to eventual tournament champion LSU Alexandria.

Shortstop Kaylle Lopez was named to the All-Tournament team after hitting .300 with four RBIs, including a walk-off single in an elimination game against co-host Louisiana Christian.

Ortiz has already seen her team bounce back in a big way after a similar showing in the Gulf Shores Invitational. After that tournament, the Jaguars went on an eight-game winning streak and outscored their opponents 64-4.

"Having anything you love taken away in a tough moment like that makes you do some soul searching," Ortiz said. "This team is definitely not ready to be done, especially based off their reaction after the Texas A&M-Texarkana game. This senior group is special, personality-wise, but they're also our babies from the World Series, and they know what it takes to make that happen. I know (the conference tournament) isn't how they wanted to go out. Given this opportunity, they're going to do everything they can to make the most of it."

The Jaguars have had historic moments at Ann Lacy Field in the past, specifically in the 2016 Opening Round when the team last played there.

UHV most notably advanced to the championship of the Oklahoma City bracket that year thanks to a walk-off, 1-0 win over Doane in 18 innings – a record which still stands as the longest NAIA Softball Opening Round game. Michelle Revels delivered the heroic walk-off single in the bottom of the 18th to score Krissa Powell, who led off the game with a triple.

"I only have good juju from that field and that city," Ortiz said. "I've seen us do great things there. So it's exciting to see how we can build upon that story."

Rounding out the field of the Oklahoma City bracket is No. 4 seed Ottawa University (38-16) out of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

UHV was one of three RRAC teams selected to the field of 48 with Our Lady of the Lake serving as the tournament's No. 1 overall seed and LSUA making the tournament as the conference's second automatic bid.