WINONA, Minn. - Everything that needed to happen for the Saint Mary's softball team, happened. The team fell in game one of the NCAA DIII Softball Super Regional at Saint Mary's University to UW-Whitewater on Thursday and was one more loss away from their season being over.
The Cardinals were focused on saving their season.
They clinched two impressive wins over the Warhawks on the final day of the Super Regional to head back to the College World Series for the first time since 2000!
GAME ONE
Megan McGinnis, who earned the regionals Most Outstanding Player, led the Cardinals with a strong performance, recording three hits and two runs in her debut game.
In one of the most important outings of her career, pitcher Kenzie Gatz delivered a standout performance. She secured a complete game shutout over seven innings, allowing no runs and striking out four batters.
The Cardinals opened the scoring, it was their turn, in the first inning against the Warhawks with McGinnis doubling to center field and later scoring on a bunt single by Peyton Berg.
The game slowed throughout the innings as these teams could not score due to the defensive effort on both sides.
To break the stalemate, Cardinals extended their lead in the sixth after McGinnis singled and later scored on a double by Makayla Steffes.
Berg contributed with a single that brought Steffes home, adding two runs to the tally.
The Cardinals ended the inning with a 3–0 lead.
In the seventh inning, the Cardinals capitalized once more when Karli Zetah used her speed and stole home, increasing their lead and what felt like the nail in the coffin.
UW-Whitewater managed two hits and loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals defense held firm, preventing any scores.
The Cardinals did it, they forced a game three.
GAME TWO
In the crucial second game of the win or go home series, the Most Outstanding Pitcher, named Makayla Steffes, claimed a complete game victory, allowing just one earned run and four hits over seven innings, while striking out three batters without issuing a walk.
To start things off on the right foot, McGinnis bombed a solo home run to right center in the first inning on the second pitch of the game, giving them an early 1–0 lead.
The team continued their momentum in the second inning when Naleyah Bork singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Allison Ciero's double.
Heather Nordlund's subsequent single brought home both Bork and Ciero, extending the Cardinals lead to 3–0 after the second inning.
Notably, the Cardinals pitching and fielding were solid, preventing the Warhawks from scoring through six innings without recording an error.
In the seventh inning, Saint Mary's offense surged again.
Ciero started with a bunt single and later scored on a fielder's choice.
Abbie Stigler's two-run homer then widened the gap further, followed by an RBI double from Berg. This four-run inning solidified the Cardinals Championship position, leading 7–0 going into the final half-inning.
Whitewater managed to score a lone run in the bottom of the seventh to spoil the day's second shutout, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
The Cardinals secured a decisive 7–1 victory, amassing ten hits to secure their spot into the College World Series!
"The support of our University and the community was awesome," said head coach John Tschida when asked about hosting the entire postseason. "For them to watch us succeed and the sincere happiness, it was cool to see it in person."
"It's about trusting the process," said Steffes. "We will need to take the World Series one game at a time."
After all eight super regional matchups conclude, teams will be reseeded for the final site.
Opening matchups and game times are expected to be announced later this weekend. The team is scheduled to begin competition on Thursday, May 29. The World Series will be hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois.