VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota softball program will be heading to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Lincoln Regional in the 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament.
After winning the program’s first-ever Summit League Tournament title, the Coyotes will partake in their first-ever NCAA Tournament in program history – in Division I or Division II – since the program began in 1978.
Entering with a 20-34-1 record, South Dakota won four games in four days, including downing top-seed Omaha twice in two one-runs games behind the arm of Madison Evans – the 2026 Summit League All-Tournament Team MVP – to secure the tournament title and Summit League automatic qualifying berth.
The Yotes became just the second team in Summit League history to win the softball tournament as the No. 4 seed. USD joins Western Illinois in 2008 to be the two teams to accomplish the feat.
LINCOLN REGIONAL
Where: Bowlin Stadium (2,530) | Lincoln, Neb.
DATES: May 15-17
TEAMS: (1) Nebraska, Grand Canyon, (8) Louisiville, South Dakota
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Ten)
46-6 (23-1 B1G)
Big Ten tournament champions
Grand Canyon Lopes (Mountain West)
52-8 (21-4 MW)
Mountain West tournament champions
Louisville Cardinals (ACC)
44-12 (18-6 ACC)
At-large selection
South Dakota (Summit League)
20-34-1 (7-11 Summit)
Summit League Tournament champions
South Dakota will face regional host Nebraska as the No. 4 seed in the regional on Friday, May 15.