WINONA, Minn. – The stage is set for the host team the No. 11 Saint Mary's Cardinals. The team is gearing up to open the NCAA DIII Softball Regional at home where they host the opening round for the second consecutive season.

The team will be opening the tournament tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) champs, the UW-Stevens Point Pointers.

In the rest of the Winona Regional is Bethany Lutheran College and Calvin University. 

The Cardinals fell in a heartbreaking in the MIAC tournament championship to the Saint Benedict Bennies last weekend but still earned the first automatic bid, of 22, to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive season. 

The Cardinals have not played at their home field since April 22 but have no fear, the Cardinals have a perfect home record this season going 12-0 at home. They have just a decent home record only dropping two last season at home as well and those came in the regionals and super regionals.

The team is led by program record holder Peyton Berg, who surpassed the program record of RBI's earlier this season at 164 and counting, with a batting average of .464. As a whole, the Cardinal squad is fifth in the country in batting average at .382.

Juniors Makayla Steffes and Kenzie Gatz are a part of a two-headed monster duo at the mound for the Cardinals who rank second in the conference (128) and third in the conference (113) for most batters struck out.

It is also a sneaky bunch, ranking first in the conference in stolen bases at 133 and 10th in the nation.

Let's take a look around the regional and how the Cardinals match up.

CALVIN KNIGHTS

Calvin is making its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance and second in the last three seasons under MIAA Coach of the Year Becky Hilgert, who has guided the program to five NCAA berths in her 10 seasons. The Knights enter the regional as the No. 2 seed with a 30-13 record after finishing second in the MIAA standings behind defending national champion Trine.

Calvin has faced 10 NCAA Tournament teams this season and went 6-9 against the field, including two wins over No. 2-ranked Trine. Junior Natalie Bush powers the offense with a .346 average, 10 home runs, and 39 RBI, while Audrey Ford, Kendall Jordan, and Carly Dole have all been key contributors at the plate.

In the circle, MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher Brooke Hunderman owns a 14-9 record with 159 strikeouts, while Emma Ludema carries a 1.98 ERA and 12-3 mark. Hunderman, Ludema, and Ford earned All-MIAA First Team honors, while Bush, Dole, and Jordan landed on the second team.

BETHANY LUTHERAN VIKINGS

Bethany Lutheran enters the regional as the No. 3 seed after capturing back-to-back UMAC Tournament titles. The Vikings secured the championship with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Northwestern and are led by UMAC Player and Rookie of the Year Olivia Sanborn.

Sanborn has been electric in her first season, batting .482 with 44 stolen bases, 48 runs scored, and 55 hits. Emily Doyle, a four-time First Team All-Conference selection, continues to anchor the lineup after leading the conference in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, doubles, and walks.

Pitcher Emily Meyer headlines the staff with a 22-6 record, 2.27 ERA, and 162 strikeouts in 178.2 innings pitched. Addie Ahern adds power to the lineup with nine home runs and 30 RBI, while Aliya Edbom-Kehler earned honorable mention All-Conference honors.

UW-STEVENS POINT POINTERS

UW-Stevens Point is making its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 10th overall in program history. The Pointers enter the regional as the No. 4 seed after setting a program record with 37 home runs this season.

Senior Ashley Zygowski recently broke the NCAA Division III career saves record, while sophomore Kodi Rizzo ranks among the nation's leaders with a 0.98 ERA. Junior catcher Rachael Madsen has also been one of the top defensive catchers in the country, throwing out 15 runners attempting to steal.

At the plate, Hailee Thompson leads the offense with a .388 batting average and 15 doubles, while Kaitlyn Roberts is hitting .341 this season.

We are looking forward to a great weekend of NCAA Regional softball at Saint Mary's University and cannot wait to welcome everyone to Winona!

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