However, this year's tournament appears to be completely open. Two-time defending champion ORU will be a No. 3 seed when it hosts the tournament Wednesday through Saturday at JL Johnson Stadium.

ORU, which reached the College World Series last year, has won 21 Summit titles since 1998. But the Golden Eagles (24-30-1, 13-15-1) were in danger of failing to qualify for the tournament for most of the season. ORU will face No. 2 seed North Dakota State (19-28-1, 14-12-1) in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

ORU's projected starter is Jakob Hall, who went 8-1 in 10 league starts and was named Summit Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday – the fourth straight year a Golden Eagles won the award. Hall threw a three-hitter and struck out 13 hitters in a win over North Dakota State on March 22 at ORU.

Omaha (18-30-1, 16-13-1) is the No. 1 seed for the first time since winning the tournament in 2019, including at ORU. The Mavericks open at noon against No. 4 seed Northern Colorado (14-36-1, 13-16-1). They split their six meetings in the regular season. Omaha's Evan Porter was named Summit Coach of the Year and outfielder Matt Goetzmann was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Regular-season champion St. Thomas (22-24, 16-10) is not eligible for the tournament because it is moving to Division I. The only other team not playing in the tournament is last-place South Dakota State (20-29, 11-17), which featured the league's player of the year, Cael Frost.

ORU, which is hosting the tournament for the 18th time, lost its last two regular-season games at St. Thomas after a 10-2 run. The Golden Eagles have lost four of six games against opening opponent North Dakota State. ORU is just 6-9 at home in Summit this season.

North Dakota State has won two tournament titles and Northern Colorado is making its first appearance since joining the Summit in 2022.

In addition to Hall, other ORU players on the All-Summit League first team were first baseman Drew Stahl and third baseman Holden Breeze. ORU's second-team selections included outfielder Kyle Booker and pitcher Brooks Fowler, and outfielder Elijah Rodriguez received honorable mention status.

G1: (1) Omaha vs. (4) Northern Colorado, noon

G2: (2) North Dakota State vs. (3) Oral Roberts, 6 p.m

G3: G1 Loser vs. G2 Loser, Noon

G4: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 6 p.m

G5: G3 winner vs. G4 loser, 4 p.m

G6: G4 winner vs. G5 winner, 1 p.m