BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The 2024 softball season has arrived for Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) teams.
The regular season officially got underway on Saturday, February 17 with a handful of non-conference dome games. MIAC teams will continue to compete throughout February in the Midwest before embarking on their typical spring trips to warmer climates in March. The first conference contests of the year are currently scheduled for March 23, with the first full round of league play slated for April 3.
The top six teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season in May will compete in the 2024 MIAC Softball Playoffs. The first two games of the single-elimination conference tournament will be hosted by seeds No. 3 and 4 on Thursday, May 9 before the playoffs head to the home field of the No. 1 seed for three final games on Saturday, May 11. The last team standing will receive the conference's automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.
2023 FINAL STANDINGS
Bethel (20-0) *#%
Saint Benedict (16-6)
St. Olaf (14-7)
Gustavus (14-8)
Saint Mary's (13-9)
St. Catherine (13-9)
Hamline (10-12)
St. Scholastica (7-12)
Macalester (7-14-1)
Carleton (7-15)
Augsburg (6-16)
Concordia (1-20-1)
*MIAC Regular Season Champion
#MIAC Playoff Champion
%NCAA Championship Participant
RULE CHANGES
The NCAA Softball Rules Committee and the Playing Rules Oversight Panel have approved numerous changes for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. One such change is an experimental rule to allow the use of a double base at first to help prevent first-base collisions. There is also a new rule to prohibit assistant coaches not in a coach's box or serving as the acting head coach from communicating with an umpire. This includes coming out of the dugout or bullpen area to appeal, question, argue, or discuss any play on the field. Violation of this rule results in an immediate ejection.
One-way electronic communication devices have been approved to allow the dugout to relay a pitch or play call to the field. This is intended to improve the pace and flow of the game and maintain the integrity of a team's signs. The rules committees also further defined obstruction, changed the time between pitches from 25 seconds to 20 seconds, and allowed for a visible action clock to assist in effectively and equitably enforcing the time between pitches and innings. The official NCAA Softball Rulebook for 2024 and 2025 is available for download via NCAA Publications.
MIAC SPORTS NETWORK
The MIAC Sports Network powered by Hudl launched in August and will be the streaming home of all MIAC-hosted games, events, and championships. The MIAC Sports Network is available on the web (https://miacsportsnetwork.com/) along with streaming apps for television and mobile devices, including Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku (TV), iOS, Android (mobile), and Amazon Fire Tablet. The app can be found and installed free of charge by searching for the MIAC Sports Network.
MIAC APP
The MIAC debuted its refreshed mobile app in 2022 through its partnership with SIDEARM Sports. The app provides live, in-game scoring with links to streaming, schedules, and standings. The MIAC app is free to fans and can be downloaded on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android devices.
AWARD WATCH
MIAC coaches will vote on the 2024 MIAC Softball All-Conference honors at the conclusion of the regular season. In addition to a 36-player All-MIAC squad, coaches will also vote on individual awards for the MIAC Player, Pitcher, Rookie, and Coach of the Year.
Throughout the regular season, the MIAC will recognize top individual performances with the MIAC Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. Athlete of the Week awards began on Monday, February 19, and will be announced each Monday through the end of the regular season. During the week following the MIAC Playoffs, participating coaches will also select a 13-player All-Playoff Team to recognize outstanding performances throughout the conference tournament.