The full 62-team field has dwindled down to 16 as the Linfield Wildcats host the Bethel Royals for a best-of-three Super Regional tournament May 26-27 at Del Smith Stadium in McMinnville, Oregon.
It's the first meeting between two of the top softball programs in the nation as a ticket to the NCAA Division III Championship is on the line.
TICKETS
As this is an NCAA-sponsored event, admission will be charged for all games.
It is recommended that fans purchase tickets in advance using the online ticketing platform. Ticket prices are as follows:
Adult General Admission $10 per day
Senior Citizens $8 per day
Students with ID $7 per day
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE
The Linfield Sports Network will provide live video broadcasts of all games with Joe Stuart covering play-by-play duties. Linfield will also provide live statistics.
WEATHER
The forecast is calling for warm temperatures between 72-81 degrees. McMinnville will be warm with clear skies on Friday. Saturday is expected to have a few clouds and a high temperature of 72 degrees.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MAY 26
Game 1: Linfield vs. Bethel, 2 p.m. (PDT)
SATURDAY, MAY 27
Game 2: Linfield vs. Bethel, 1 p.m. (PDT)
Game 3: Linfield vs. Bethel, 3:30 p.m. (PDT), if necessary
LINFIELD WILDCATS (44-4, 27-1 NWC)
Linfield is in the NCAA playoffs for the 18
th time in the last 19 seasons. The Wildcats swept the SCIAC champion Redlands Bulldogs at home in the only two-team regional tournament of the bracket. Linfield shut out the Bulldogs twice on Day 2 of the tournament, which saw the Wildcats put up 21 runs across the two games.
The Northwest Conference regular-season and tournament champion, Linfield was ranked No. 4 in the latest NFCA Top 25. The Wildcats' postseason record improved to 78-36 as they claimed their 10
th NCAA regional title. The 'Cats have one Super Regional championship and two NCAA Division III national championships in 2007 and 2011. Linfield head coach
Jackson Vaughan enters the tournament three wins shy of his 800
th career win with a 797-193-2 record. The 797 wins rank No. 17 all-time in Division III and No. 8 among active coaches.
The 'Cats landed six All-Region players in 2023, including four on the First Team. The two-time defending NWC Player of the Year,
Katie Phillips is batting .395 with 70 hits, including 20 doubles, six triples and four home runs. She has driven in a team-leading 65 RBI.
Tayah Kelley repeated as the NWC Pitcher of the Year, collecting a 31-1 record in the circle with 232 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA. She's Linfield's all-time leader in strikeouts with 637 and counting.
Kaili Saathoff is batting .457 with a .526 on-base percentage. She's among the nation's leaders with 74 hits and 63 runs.
Claire Seats is slugging .636 with 69 hits and 63 RBI and leads the 'Cats with seven homers.
BETHEL ROYALS (36-3, 20-0 MIAC)
Bethel was ranked No. 11 in the latest NFCA poll. The Royals claimed their second consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships under ninth-year head coach Penny Foore, who was named the MIAC Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Bethel mowed through its MIAC schedule with a 20-0 record, the program's first perfect season in conference play. This is the Royals' second straight trip to the Super Regionals.
The Royals are led by senior pitcher Kayla Simacek, now a two-time MIAC Pitcher of the Year. Simacek earned her third straight All-MIAC honor in 2023. She leads Division III with 34 wins, 14 shutouts and 344 strikeouts while walking just 22 batters. Simacek has held opposing lineups to a .170 batting average.
Joining Simacek on the All-MIAC Team were five other players. Allie Fauth-Kilgore returned for an extra season of eligibility and became the first player in conference history to become a five-time all-conference selection. Lexi DeBace is the Royals' leader with a .375 batting average and 48 hits. Kayla Hokanson has driven in 25 runs and while Izzy Wilhelm has 15 doubles.
