FRISCO, Texas — Southeastern has proven a pain for its mid-major and power conference opponents alike in the past two seasons. The Lions have won the last two Southland Softball Championships under the tutelage of head coach Rick Fremin and scored multiple upset wins in their regional sites, scoring multiple wins over nationally seeded opponents. 

This résumé includes wins over Clemson in the Tuscaloosa Regional in 2024 and the eliminating blows to No. 10-seeded LSU in last year's Baton Rouge Regional. That track record leaves little doubt of Southeastern's deserving candidacy as a participant at the 2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic. This opening event includes a number of qualifyers for the 2025 NCAA Division I Softball Championship, including two participants in the Women's College World Series. 

The Lions get their shot against one of those two teams on an elevated stage Sunday morning. Southeastern will face Oregon in a game shown live on MLB Network. 

Fremin's team is off to a 1-2 start at the tournament that began Thursday, opening the 2026 campaign with a near upset of No. 13 ranked Clemson in a 5-3 defeat in extra innings. The Lions then fell 2-0 to South Alabama Friday afternoon before a resounding 9-0 triumph over Longwood later in the evening. Southeastern gets two more challenges on Saturday before facing the Ducks, challening Rutgers at 2 p.m. before a matchup with Boston College at 5 p.m.

Sophomore infielder Shelby Morris leads Southeastern with a .400 batting average and two RBI through the team's first three games while senior infielder Maria Detillier posts a .375 average and two of her own RBI in that span. Redshirt sophomore has seen the lionshare of responsibility in the circle thus far, touting a 1.75 ERA and 12 strikouts in eight innings of work. 

Oregon is 1-1 through its first two games at the NFCA Classic. First pitch from Clearwater, Fla., is set for 9 a.m.