The Linfield Wildcats have been selected to host the Redlands Bulldogs in a two-team NCAA Division III regional playoff tournament starting on Thursday, May 16. The NCAA announced the full 62-team tournament field Monday morning.
 
Reaching the NCAA postseason for the 19th time in the last 20 seasons, the Wildcats (43-0) will play the Bulldogs (32-11) in a best-of-5 series.

Game 1 is set for Thursday, May 16, at Del Smith Stadium starting at 4 p.m.

Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for Friday, May 17, at 1:30 and 4 p.m., respectively.

Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will follow Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
 
After winning the Northwest Conference regular season title, Linfield went 3-0 at the NWC Tournament, topping Lewis & Clark on Championship Sunday to claim the NWC's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
 
Linfield enters the NCAA Tournament with a Division III-leading 43 wins. Statistically, the Wildcats lead NCAA Division III in home runs (48) while ranking second in doubles (93) and third in slugging percentage (.582).
 
Linfield and Redlands have met 41 times previously in softball, with the Wildcats owning a 31-10 series record. Linfield swept Redlands in March as part of a nonconference doubleheader, 3-2 and 11-9. The Wildcats have won the last five matchups and 8 of the previous 10.
 
The Division III championship tournament is comprised of 15 four-team regionals and one two-team regional using a double-elimination playoff format. Sixteen teams advance from the regional round to compete in eight two-team, best-of-three tournaments, May 30-June 5, at campus sites.
 
A complete tournament preview will follow later this week.