A pair of first-time qualifiers will square off on the opening day of the Avista-NAIA World Series, as No. 8 seed University of South Carolina Beaufort will face No. 9 seed Rogers State (Okla.) in the first round at noon Pacific time on May 25 at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Sand Sharks (40-17) had to win five consecutive elimination games to win the Hardeeville (S.C.) Bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, culminating with an 11-2 win over St. Thomas (Fla.) on Monday - and setting a school record for victories in the process. 

The Hillcats (45-14) had an easier road through the Hutchinson (Kan.) Bracket, defeating Judson (Ill.) 9-5, Oklahoma Baptist 5-4 and host Tabor (Kan.) 7-3 to wrap up the title Saturday.

Both teams put together long winning streaks early in the season. The Hillcats won their first 12 games and 18 of their first 19. The Sand Sharks won nine straight and 13 of 14 in February amidst a 13-game home winning streak.

The Sand Sharks' senior-laden lineup was productive in the Opening Round, as USCB hit .308 as a team and scored 7.17 runs per game. The pitching staff also compiled an impressive 2.95 ERA in six games.

The Hillcats were equally productive at the plate in the Opening Round, hitting .328 and scoring seven runs per game. Their pitchers compiled a 3.41 ERA in three games.

The teams have never met previously.

USCB is familiar with three teams in the 10-team field, though, including two it faced this season. The Sand Sharks won two of three during a regular-season series against No. 5 seed Embry-Riddle and lost to the Eagles in the Sun Conference tournament, and they dropped both ends of a two-game series with No. 4 seed Tennessee Wesleyan in March. 

USCB also has a history with No. 2 seed Lee (Tenn.), which beat the Sand Sharks in extra innings in the 2010 NAIA National Championship Opening Round in Cleveland, Tenn.