STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Softball will be one of nine teams featured in Mexico next season, part of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, announced on Wednesday.
 
The Texans will be part of the event's second session on Feb. 16-20, along with Duke, Connecticut, Miami (Ohio) and Cal State Fullerton.
 
"This will be a great experience for our team, from playing against other nationally high-level programs, to a memorable week that will bring our group that much closer," head coach Mark Cumpian said. "We're excited for this opportunity to play in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, and we hope some of our great Texan fans will join us in Mexico!"
 
This is the 11th edition of the event, which will run across two sessions, Feb. 11-13 and Feb. 16-20, at Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Teams and fans will be hosted at the oceanside Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center, the official host hotel just a few blocks from the field.
 
This year's field features nine programs with four former participants returning. The first session will feature Kansas, Purdue, North Dakota State and Central Arkansas. Duke returns to PV for the third time with appearances in both 2019 and 2023. Kansas and Cal State Fullerton also competed in the 2023 edition, with Fullerton also making an appearance in 2017. North Dakota State has been a Puerto Vallarta staple (2025, 2023, 2019). The Bison are back for the fourth time which leads all returners this year.
 
Fan lodging packages are available, and can be purchased here. Tickets for the 2027 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge can also be purchased in advance here.
 
"Despite the difficulties putting this tournament together in recent years we are incredibly happy with where it is right now" said Tournament Director Dave King. "Having a full field again in 2027 is a huge win and is just the start of the next two years of this event."
 
Puerto Vallarta marks the start of the collegiate softball season and plants itself as an incredible experience for fans and families alike. PV provides a unique experience in a walkable city with markets and adventure on every corner. The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge is put on by Triple Crown Sports.
 
About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Triple Crown Sports has been producing youth, high school and college events for more than 40 years. TCS runs both the Postseason WNIT basketball event and produces the men's and women's DI Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown also powers the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) and launched the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in 2015, which annually features more than 10 of the top DI college softball teams in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Anchored by the 1,200-team Colorado 4th of July event, TC fastpitch softball tournaments draw the nation's finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes. The company also produces one of the largest youth baseball events in the world with the 700-team Omaha SlumpBuster during the College World Series. The Triple Crown Volleyball NIT has become the top-recruited club volleyball event in the country each February when 550 teams compete in Kansas City, Missouri.