RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Due to anticipated inclement weather in the Bentonville area the Great American Conference announced it would push the start of the 2019 Softball Championships to Friday. In addition, the league announced a change in the format from double elimination to single elimination.
 
As the No. 7 seed in the tournament, SWOSU will now face No. 2-seed Arkansas Tech at 12:30 pm on Friday afternoon with the winner advancing to a semifinal to be played on Saturday at 1:00 pm. The Bulldogs are making their third all-time appearance in the GAC Tournament and first since 2013.
 
"In light of the adverse weather forecasts, we feel this change gives our student-athletes the best opportunity to compete without conditions becoming a factor," GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said. "Changing to the single-elimination format used in many other Division I and II conferences a year earlier than expected should provide some exciting softball this weekend."
 
All seven contests will stream on the GAC Sports Network. For complete coverage and additional information, visit the Softball Championship Central page.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, May 3
G1: #3 Harding vs. #6 Southern Nazarene 10:00 a.m.
G2: #2 Arkansas Tech vs. #7 Southwestern Oklahoma State 12:30 p.m.
G3: #1 Southern Arkansas vs. #8 Ouachita Baptist 3:00 p.m.
G4: #4 Southeastern Oklahoma State vs. #5 East Central 5:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 4:
G5: Winner of G1 vs. Winner of G2 1:00 p.m.
G6: Winner of G3 vs. Winner of G4 3:30 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 5
G7: Championship game 12:30 p.m.