The Pioneers won't have far to travel to the 2009 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round. Wayland has been awarded the #2 seed in the Field 1 Tournament, which is being hosted by Lubbock Christian University at Hays Field.

WBU will be playing third-seeded Northwood University of Cedar Hill, Tex. in a first round game beginning at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. The Knights, champions of the Red River Athletic Conference, are 36-17 on the season, but were unranked in the final NAIA Top 25.

Other teams competing in Lubbock are top-ranked LCU; fourth-seeded William Jewell, which is located in Liberty, Mo. and was runner-up of the Heart of America Conference; and #5-seed University of Houston-Victoria, a second year program and champions of the Association of Independent Institutions.

Tournament passes (entry to all games) are $20 for adults and $10 for students with a valid ID on Monday, May 11 from 8 to 4 or at Hays Field on game days. Day passes (three games) will be sold at the Hays Field Box Office on game days for $10 for adults and $5 for students.

The tournament festivities begin Monday, May 11th at 6:30 p.m. with the Pre-Tournament Celebration. The banquet, which is business casual and will feature barbeque, will be hosted at Cagle Steaks and the keynote speaker is former LCU and Texas Tech baseball head coach Larry Hays. Tickets for the banquet are $20 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (806) 720-7276. Fans of each team are encouraged to attend the banquet.

Click here for the complete bracket.