Linfield's senior-laden team returns to the NCAA Finals for the the third straight season with one goal in mind: Winning the top prize in Division III Softball. Placing seventh in Division III in 2023 and third last season, the Wildcats know all too well the disappointment with coming up short. And they have a clear vision of what it will take to win it all.

The Wildcats are one of eight softball programs in contention for a national crown as the NCAA Division III Championship Finals play out in Bloomington, Illinois, May 29-June 4, at newly renovated Inspirational Field.

Action begins Thursday, May 29, and runs through Wednesday, June 4, in Bloomington, a city of about 80,000 located in central Illinois about two hours southwest of Chicago. The double-elimination tournament is hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
Linfield (43-5) is the tournament's No. 4 seed and will play fifth-seeded St. Mary's-Minnesota (44-5) Thursday at 1:30 p.m. CDT/11:30 a.m. PDT.
 
Thursday's Game 1 winner faces the winner of the No. 8 seed Randolph-Macon (44-5) and top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan (40-8) game Friday at 11 a.m. CDT/9 a.m. PDT. The loser falls into an elimination game Friday at 1:30 p.m. CDT/11:30 a.m. PDT.
 
The other side of the championship bracket includes second-seeded Rowan (48-2), No. 7 Texas Lutheran (44-3), No. 3 Trine (41-5) and sixth-seeded Redlands (39-9).
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Linfield is contending for its third national championship since 2007. The Wildcats must navigate the double-elimination format that features two pods of four teams each. The survivors from each pod square off in a best-of-three series to determine the national champion starting Tuesday.

FOLLOW THE ACTION
The NCAA and Tupuleo-Honey are teaming up to provide live video webcasts of all championship tournament games. Live statistics are also available through Illinois Wesleyan. Tournament results can be tracked on the NCAA Division III softball home page.
 
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Regular-season champions of the Northwest Conference, the Wildcats enter the NCAA Championship Finals having rolled through the postseason with an 8-0 record. The 'Cats won the championship games at the NWC Tournament, the McMinnville Regional and McMinnville Super Regional, defeating Lewis & Clark, Chapman (Calif.) and Illinois Wesleyan, respectively, to claim each of the the three tournament titles.
 
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
The Wildcats are making their ninth appearance at the NCAA Championship and are 92-42 all-time in the NCAA Division III softball playoffs. In addition to winning NCAA crowns in 2007 and 2011, Linfield also advanced as far as the Division III championship game in 2010, falling to East Texas Baptist, and 2012, losing to Pacific Lutheran.
 
Linfield's all-time softball record versus St. Mary's (Minn.) is 1-0 with only meeting taking place during the 2010 Sun West Tournament in Fremont, California. Lauren Harvey pitched seven scoreless innings while Emily Keabine, Sami Keim and Rachelle Ridout all had two hits as the Wildcats blanked the Cardinals 6-0.
 
SEASON CROSSOVER
Linfield faced two NCAA Finals opponents during the 2025 regular season, posting a 2-1 record. In the Wildcats' season-opening contest on Feb. 28 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, Linfield knocked off Trine 14-7. One month later, Linfield traveled to Southern California where they split a doubleheader with Redlands, winning the opener 12-8 before dropping the nightcap 6-2, halting a 14-game winning streak.
 

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

 
THURSDAY, MAY 29
Game 1: Virginia Wesleyan vs. Randolph-Macon, 11 a.m. CDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 2: Linfield vs. St. Mary's, 1:30 p.m. CDT / 11:30 a.m. PDT
Game 3: Rowan vs. Texas Lutheran, 4 p.m. CDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 4: Trine vs. Redlands, 6:30 p.m. CDT / 4:30 p.m. PDT

FRIDAY, MAY 30
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 a.m. CDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (elimination game), 1:30 p.m. CDT / 11:30 a.m. PDT
Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m. CDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 8: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination game), 6:30 p.m. CDT / 4:30 p.m. PDT
 
SATURDAY, MAY 31
Game 9: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7 (elimination game), 11 a.m. CDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 10: Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 5 (elimination game), 1:30 p.m. CDT / 11:30 a.m. PDT
 
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
Game 11: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 9, 11 a.m. CDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 12: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 10, 1:30 p.m. CDT / 11:30 a.m. PDT
Game 13: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 9, if necessary, 4 p.m. CDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 14: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, if necessary, 6:30 p.m. CDT / 4:30 p.m. PDT
 
MONDAY, JUNE 2
Rest Day
 
TUESDAY, JUNE 3
Championship Series Game 1: Teams TBA, 11 a.m. CDT / 9 a.m. PDT
 
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
Championship Series Game 2: Teams TBA, 11 a.m. CDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Championship Series Game 3: Teams TBA, if necessary, 1:30 p.m. CDT / 11:30 a.m. PDT

TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN

LINFIELD WILDCATS (43-5)
Linfield used two shutout victories over Illinois Wesleyan in the NCAA McMin-nville Super Regional at Del Smith Stadium to secure the program's ninth overall and third straight NCAA Division III Championships appearance. Coach Jackson Vaughan, in his 24th season at the helm, leads the Wildcats with a 892-204-2 career record and an impressive 92-42 postseason record.
 
Tyler McNeley received NWC Pitcher of the Year honors after dominating the conference throughout her sophomore season. With a 2.23 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 2025, McNeley played a crucial role in helping Linfield secure its seventh straight NWC Tournament championship. McNeley has registered an 8-0 record and a 0.76 ERA in the postseason, piling up 33 strikeouts against just six walks.
 
Claire Seats, the Division III career leader in RBIs, also leads the country in doubles (24) while sporting a .469 average to go along with 20 home runs on the season. Meara Sain fills the leadoff spot for Linfield and has delivered with a .484 on-base percentage. Jacey Leyvas, Brynn Nelson and Cydney Hess round out the list of Wildcats averaging above .400. Kaili Saathoff has been Linfield's most consistent offensive performer in the postseason, hitting .583 with four walks, three doubles, a home run and six RBIs in eight playoff games, all wins.
 
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN MARLINS (46-3-1)
Virginia Wesleyan advanced to the Division III Finals with 8-0 and 10-1 wins over Gettysburg College. Head coach Brandon Elliot is in his 19th season of coaching and holds a 668-155-2 overall record.
 
Lauren Bible leads the pitching staff with 25-1 record and a 1.58 ERA across 141.2 innings. Hannah Hearl backs Bible up with a 1.37 ERA and a 13-2 rec-ord in 2025.
 
ODAC Rookie of the Year Morgan Tucker leads the way at the plate with a .493 batting average to go along with 68 hits and 69 RBI, second most na-tionally. Laci Campbell won ODAC Player of the Year honors after an outstand-ing junior season where she racked up 64 runs on 51 hits and a .509 on-base percentage.
 
ROWAN PROFS (48-2)
The Profs set a new program record for victories in a single season after secur-ing two wins over Salisbury in the NCAA Super Regionals. Rowan is making the program's ninth appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships. Head coach Kim Wilson is in the midst of her 29th season at Rowan and holds a 1,031-362-2 career record in 35 seasons.
 
In the pitching circle, Emily McCutcheon and Rylee Lutz split the work with each holding a 21-1 record. Lutz leads in strikeouts with 108, while McCutch-eon leads in ERA at 0.86.
 
All-NJAC First Team selection Payton MacNair enters the championship tour-nament with a .441 batting average and 67 hits as a fifth-year senior. Liz McCaffery comes in with 70 hits to go along with 64 runs scored and a .621 slugging percentage. Aly Reim has batted in 41 runs on 45 hits while only striking out nine times all season.
 
TRINE THUNDER (41-5)
After winning the 2023 Division III national championship in 2023, Trine was bounced early in the Super Regionals a season ago, but the Thunder are back in the Championship Finals for a sixth time and ready to compete for another title. Donnie Danklefsen is in his 21st season as head coach at Trine and has led the Thunder to 16 NCAA Regional appearances.
 
Alexis Michon captains the defense from the mound with 142.1 innings pitched and a 22-1 record. Her 0.79 ERA ranks third nationally, and her 184 strikeouts are the third most in program history.
 
With a .420 average at the plate, Tyra Marcum leads the Thunder offensively while also putting up 60 hits, 39 runs and 52 RBI. Debbie Hill has been a problem for opposing pitchers with 19 home runs and 62 RBI, showing her ability to be able to single-handedly turn a game.
 
SAINT MARY'S, MINN. CARDINALS (44-5)
After losing the first game of the NCAA Super Regionals to Wisconsin-Whitewater, Saint Mary's bounced back to win two straight and secure a spot in the NCAA Championship Finals. Fourth-year coach John Tschida led the Cardinals to a program record 44 wins in 2025.
 
MIAC Pitcher of the Year Makayla Steffes has been impressive throughout her sophomore season, registering a 1.75 ERA, 21-4 record and 139 strikeouts. Kenzie Gatz provides solid backup with a 1.39 ERA and an 18-1 record while also tossing 84 strikeouts.
 
At the plate, Steffes also leads the way with nine homers and a .425 batting average. Peyton Berg's ability to bring in runs will be on full display as she sits with 58 RBI on the season. Megan McGinnins and Abbie Stigler will also play crucial offensive roles throughout the championships. The Cardinals are dan-gerous on the basepaths, having swiped 158 bags this spring.
 
REDLANDS BULLDOGS (39-9)
With two wins over Emory in the NCAA Super Regionals, the Bulldogs are in the Championship Finals for the first time in program history. Seventh-year coach Jose Otega brings a 164-89 career record to Bloomington and this spring led the Bulldogs to a single-season program record 39 wins.
 
Katlyn Gandara shoulders much of the workload in the circle for Redlands with a 1.85 ERA across 110 innings pitched, notching a 14-3 record. Paige Ellinger counters with a 2.02 ERA and an 11-1 record with 45 strikeouts and a .251 opponent batting average.
 
Leila Jackson is the Bulldogs' home run threat with seven long bombs on the season and a .681 slugging percentage. Paige Messenlehner has tallied 62 hits and 52 runs while Gandara has driven home 44 runs.
 
TEXAS LUTHERAN BULLDOGS(44-3)
The Bulldogs swept last year's champion, East Texas Baptist, in the Marshall Texas Super Regional to secure a spot in the Championship Finals. With 44 victories to date, the Bulldogs are within two wins of establishing a new sin-gle-season program record. Head coach Wade Wilson is in his 14th season and owns a 501-95 career record at Texas Lutheran, including leading the Bull-dogs to the 2019 NCAA Division III national championship and a NCAA run-ner-up finish in 2021.
 
Senior Amanda White leads the pitching staff with a 0.89 ERA across 165.1 innings pitched, accruing a 24-1 record along the way. With 108 strikeouts, she features one of the most dangerous arms remaining in the tournament.
 
Serena Gonzalez proves to be a constant long-ball threat with 14 home runs on the season and a team-high 61 RBI. Annie Kay shows efficiency with a .473 batting average while Caelee Clark tops the leaderboard in runs with 61 in her junior season.
 
RANDOLPH-MACON YELLOW JACKETS (39-12)
The Yellow Jackets were force to play a third game in the their best-of-three NCAA Super Regionals series against Moravian, eventually coming away with a 1-0 victory. Head coach Krysti Maronski-Neufeldt is in her first season at the helm and led Randolph-Macon to a runner-up finish in the Old Dominion Ath-letic Conference Tournament.
 
Gracie Ellis took home ODAC Pitcher of the Year honors after tallying the most shutouts in the country this season with 13. Her 251 strikeouts rank second nationally and broke the program record for most in a season while also main-taining a 0.75 ERA.
 
Amanda Lanyon captains the offense as an All-ODAC First Team selection. She bats .343 and has racked up 60 hits to go along with 27 RBI this season. Tori Powell leads the squad in RBI with 34 while her six home runs also prove to be an offensive threat.