WINONA, Minn. – For the second consecutive season, the Saint Mary's Cardinals are Softball Playoff Champions of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Cardinals defeated Macalester, 9-1, in the semifinal round on Saturday before returning to the field later in the afternoon to defeat Saint Benedict, 5-3. The Bennies defeated St. Olaf, 3-2, in the second game of the afternoon to secure a spot in the title contest.
With the win, Saint Mary's is headed to the NCAA Tournament as the automatic qualifier from the MIAC.
| 2025 MIAC SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS |
NO. 1 SAINT MARY'S 9, NO. 4 MACALESTER 1 | BOX SCORE |
The top-seeded Cardinals secured a spot in the championship game with a 9-1 win over No. 4 Macalester in the semifinals on Saturday. Ten different SMU players recorded a hit in the game, including outfielder Naleya Bork, who went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in the second inning. Saint Mary's pitcher Makayla Steffes had two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI, to go along with four strikeouts and four hits allowed in six innings of work. Macalester pitcher Martha Miller accounted for the Scots' run, a home run ball over the left field fence in the sixth inning.
NO. 2 SAINT BENEDICT 3, NO. 3 ST. OLAF 2 | BOX SCORE |
A three-run third inning proved to be enough offense for the Bennies in a 3-2 victory over St. Olaf in the second semifinal contest of the day. Leadoff hitter Lily Treml drove home a run on a single to centerfield in the bottom of the third before Olivia Tautges followed up with a two-run single of her own later in the inning. The Oles got a run back in the fourth on a fielder's choice, and scored again on Shreya Ashok's sacrifice fly in the seventh. Ellie Peterson got the win in the circle for CSB after five innings of work while Olivia Wallace picked up the save.
NO. 1 SAINT MARY'S 5, NO. 2 SAINT BENEDICT 3 | BOX SCORE |
Saint Mary's looked to be off to the races, scoring three runs in the first inning before Saint Benedict evened the game with two runs in the fourth and another in the sixth. Breonna Methner's two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth helped seal the victory and a second consecutive championship for the Cardinals. Abbie Stigler led SMU at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the win, while Makayla Steffes and Kenzie Gatz combined for three hits allowed from the pitcher's circle. Tuscany Ballot tied the game for Saint Benedict on a pinch-hit home run in the sixth before Methner put the game out of reach at the bottom of the inning.
Following the title game, Saint Mary's was presented with the MIAC Softball Playoff Championship plaque. The Cardinals also received the conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. The NCAA will announce the entire field for the national tournament on Monday on NCAA.com.
2025 MIAC SOFTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 8, 2024
Game 1: No. 4 Macalester 10, No. 5 Bethel 2 | Box Score |
Game 2: No. 3 St. Olaf 6, No. 6 St. Catherine 5 | Box Score |
Saturday, May 10, 2024
Game 3: No. 1 Saint Mary's 9, No. 4 Macalester 1 | Box Score |
Game 4: No. 2 Saint Benedict 3, No. 3 St. Olaf 2 | Box Score |
Game 5: No. 1 Saint Mary's 5, No. 2 Saint Benedict 3 | Box Score |
*Games 3-5 played at the field of the No. 1 seed
| 2025 MIAC Softball Playoffs |