BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The quarterfinal round of the 2026 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Softball Playoffs is in the books, as No. 3 St. Olaf and No. 5 St. Catherine punched their tickets to the championship site with victories on Thursday afternoon. The Oles topped crosstown rival Carleton, 9-0, in six innings, while the Wildcats upset Gustavus, 8-5.
The Oles and Wildcats will now join regular-season champion Saint Benedict and defending playoff champion Saint Mary's for the semifinal and championship rounds in St. Joseph. The top-seeded Benies will host both semifinal contests and the championship game on Saturday, May 9.
| 2026 MIAC Softball Playoffs | Purchase Tickets |
NO. 5 ST. CATHERINE 8, NO. 4 GUSTAVUS 5 | BOX SCORE |
St. Catherine is headed back to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2022 after defeating Gustavus, 8-5, on Thursday afternoon. The scoring was early and often, as the Wildcats and Gusties tallied eleven of the game's 12 runs in the first three innings of play. Mayci Larson's two-run home run in the top of the second put the Wildcats on top, 5-0, before the Gusties stormed back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. St. Kate's took the lead for good in the third on a two-RBI single by Sam Aronson.
St. Catherine will now face No. 1 Saint Benedict in the first semifinal contest on Saturday. The two programs have met in the MIAC Playoffs twice before, both in the 2018 conference tournament. The Bennies swept this year's regular-season series at home on April 26. Game time for Saturday's semifinal contest is set for 11:00 a.m.
NO. 3 ST. OLAF 9, NO. 6 CARLETON 0 (6 inn.) | BOX SCORE |
Eva Hokanson drove in five of St. Olaf's nine runs in a six-inning victory over Carleton on Thursday afternoon. Hokanson put the Oles on top with a two-RBI double in the first, and ended the game with a three-run homer in the sixth. St. Olaf pitcher Roxanne Ring earned the shutout win, collecting twice as many strikeouts (8) as hits allowed (4). Ring also drove in a run of her own with an RBI double in the bottom of the third.
The Oles will now square off with No. 2 Saint Mary's in the semifinals on Saturday. St. Olaf won the only previous postseason matchup between the two programs in the 2023 conference quarterfinals. The Cardinals swept the 2026 regular-season series in Winona on April 16. Saturday's first pitch is tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph.
The winners of the semifinal games on Saturday will then square off at 4:00 p.m. that afternoon in the 2026 MIAC Softball Playoff championship game. The winner will receive the conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.
PURCHASE GAME TICKETS
All tickets for the 2026 MIAC Softball Playoffs will be sold and purchased online via HomeTown Ticketing. There will not be cash sales at any venue; however, spectators can purchase tickets using a mobile device, including while at the venue. Tickets for the quarterfinal contests are on sale now; semifinal and championship game tickets will go on sale Thursday night. General admission adult tickets are $12 (plus HTT service charge). Student (with ID) tickets are $3 (plus HTT service charge), and children ages five and under are admitted free.
PAY-PER-VIEW
The 2026 MIAC Softball Playoffs will be streamed live on the MIAC Sports Network in a pay-per-view format. Fans who are unable to attend the tournament may purchase a $12 "championship pass" to stream the entire MIAC Softball Playoffs live. On-demand access to playoff games will be available after the NCAA Tournament concludes.
The MIAC Sports Network Help Page provides guidance and links to help fans navigate the streaming platform. Hudl Customer Support is also available by email or 24/7 chat to assist with any issues.
CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL
Official playoff and championship apparel is available for online purchase via the MIAC Shop powered by UNRestricted MKTG. The online MIAC Shop features officially licensed short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeves, and hooded sweatshirts to commemorate the 2026 playoff tournament. Team champion apparel will be added and available for purchase shortly after the championship game.
PLAYOFF HQ
The MIAC has a homepage dedicated to the 2026 MIAC Softball Playoffs, containing schedules, links, and information on each of the six teams in the field. Throughout the tournament, the page will be updated with scores, stats, and updated schedules.
2026 MIAC SOFTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Game 1: No. 5 St. Catherine 8, No. 4 Gustavus 5 | Box Score |
Game 2: No. 3 St. Olaf 9, No. 6 Carleton 0 (6 inn.) | Box Score |
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Game 3: No. 5 St. Catherine at No. 1 Saint Benedict | 11:00 AM | Tickets | PPV Stream | Live Stats |
Game 4: No. 3 St. Olaf vs. No. 2 Saint Mary's | 1:30 PM* | Tickets | PPV Stream | Live Stats |
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 | 4:00 PM* | Tickets | PPV Stream | Live Stats |
*Games 3-5 played at the field of the No. 1 seed
| 2026 MIAC Softball Playoffs | MIAC Playoff History | MIAC Softball Championship Apparel |