The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team has been selected to host the 2026 NCAA DIII Softball Regional. The Marlins are the overall No. 1 team in the tournament and will have made the NCAA Tournament for the 13th straight season, and will be hosting a four-team regional beginning this Thursday at TowneBank Park.

The Marlins are one of the 64 teams in the bracket, play will begin Thursday at 16 regional sites in a double-elimination tournament. The first game will be the No. 1 Seed VWU vs. the No. 4 Seed John Jay at 11 AM , followed by the No. 2 Seed Pfeiffer vs. the No. 3 Seed Manhattanville at 1:30 PM. 

Friday's games will be played at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 4:00 PM. The Championship will take place on Saturday at 1:30 PM with a second winner-take-all game, if necessary, at 4:30 PM.

Tickets will be available at TowneBank Park one hour before the first game each day. Cash is highly encouraged (Bills under $20); Adults will be sold for $15, $10 for Students and Seniors, and $5 for kids ages 3-12, and free for children ages three and under.  

The Marlins punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history, as they went through the 2026 regular season undefeated for the first time in program history and have gone into the tournament as the No. 1 Seed for the fifth time in school history. Head Coach Brandon Elliott is in his 19th season with the team, and this is his 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where he has won three National Titles. 

Pfeiffer is the No. 2 Seed and has posted a 38-9 record with a 17-1 overall record to claim their fourth consecutive USA South Tournament title and make their sixth NCAA Tournament and defeated N.C. Wesleyan in dominant fashion. 

Manhattanville is the No. 3 Seed, posting an overall record of 35-8 and 18-0 in conference, the Valiants claim their 14th conference title to make the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in program history. 

John Jay with first face the host, Virginia Wesleyan, and comes into the tournament with an 18-20 record with another championship chapter for the John Jay College Athletics softball program, as the Bloodhounds captured their fourth consecutive CUNYAC title and fifth conference championship in program history.