TWU, Johnson Advance to NAIA World Series

WALESKA, Ga. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) has two teams participating in the 2026 NAIA Baseball World Series with Tennessee Wesleyan and Johnson advancing.

The 10-team championship event begins on Friday in Lewiston, Idaho.

Tennessee Wesleyan and Johnson both won their respective opening round tournaments by going undefeated.

In the Kingsport Bracket, Tennessee Wesleyan was the No. 2 seed and outscored its three opponents 24-1. Tennessee Wesleyan opened with a 7-0 win over No. 3 seed LSU Alexandria (La.) before downing No. 4 seed Indiana Wesleyan 8-0. In the championship round, TWU dispatched No. 1 seed Webber International 9-1 to secure its spot in the NAIA World Series.

Johnson was the No. 1 seed in the Salina (Kan.) Bracket and opened things up with a 20-10 win over No. 4 seed Our Lady of the Lake (Texas). Johnson then defeated No. 2 seed Kansas Wesleyan 10-3 and 9-8 to punch its ticket to the final site.

At the NAIA World Series, Johnson is the No. 6 seed with Tennessee Wesleyan being the No. 8 seed. Tennessee Wesleyan opens play on Friday at 10 pm ET against Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), while Johnson does not play until Saturday when it faces No. 5 seed Southeastern (Fla.) at 2 pm ET.

This is Tennessee Wesleyan's ninth trip to the NAIA World Series, having won the national title in 2012 and 2019. Meanwhile, this is Johnson's first-ever trip to Lewiston.

For a complete look at the double-elimination bracket, click here.

All games will be livestreamed for free on the Urban Edge Network.