SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League announced the bracket for the 2021 Baseball Championship presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare Saturday with Oral Roberts earning the No. 1 seed for the 19th time in program history. The Golden Eagles have won the postseason tournament each of those 19 times and are looking for the program’s 20th postseason title overall as a league member.
The four-team tournament will be played May 27-29 at Tal Anderson Field. The double-elimination tournament starts Thursday when the top-seeded Golden Eagles take on No. 4 seed South Dakota State at 1 p.m. CT.
The Jackrabbits did not punch their ticket for the tournament until the final day of the regular season when they beat Oral Roberts 7-4 to split a four-game set against the top seed and set up a rematch on the opening day of the tournament.
Thursday’s second contest features No. 2 seed North Dakota State vs. tournament host and No. 3 seed Omaha at 6 p.m. CT. The Bison won a program-record 20 Summit League games to finish second in the standings and their 38 victories overall are the second most in a single season in program history.
The Mavericks, who won the last league tournament played in 2019 to earn the right to host, brings a three-game winning streak back to their home park after taking the final three games of a road series at Western Illinois.
Friday’s action will feature three contests with the winner’s of Thursday’s games squaring off in game three at 11 a.m. CT and the loser’s playing the first elimination game at 3 p.m. CT. Game five will feature the loser of game three vs. the winner of game four at 7 p.m. CT.
First pitch for Saturday’s championship game will be at 2 p.m. (CT) with an if necessary game at approximately 5 p.m. (CT). The Summit League Champion will earn the League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Championship Schedule
Thursday, May 27th
G1: (1) Oral Roberts vs. (4) South Dakota State | 1 p.m. CT
G2: (2) North Dakota State vs. (3) Omaha | 6 p.m. CT
Friday, May 28th
G3: G1 Loser vs. G2 Loser | 11 a.m. CT
G4: G1 Winner vs. G2 Winner | 3 p.m. CT
G5: G3 Winner vs. G4 Loser | 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 29th
G6: G4 Winner vs. G5 Winner | 2 p.m. CT
G7: If Necessary | 6 p.m. CT
*Courtesy Summit League
