WINONA, Minn. – For the second consecutive season and just the second time in program history, the Saint Mary's softball team is set to host Super Regionals this Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22.

After a thrilling game seven at the SMU Softball Field last Saturday, the Cardinals officially punched their ticket to Super Regionals, sweeping the Calvin Knights to extend their season to another week.

The team is now set to take on Simpson College, a team the Cardinals are rather familiar with from last season. Super Regionals is a best of three games series between the host institution, the Cardinals, and the final regional opponent, the Storm. 

It all starts at 2:00 p.m. CT on Thursday. The two-day, three-game Super Regional will determine who will advance to the College World Series. On Friday, the Storm and the Cardinals will face-off again at 1:00 p.m with the if-necessary game at 3:30 p.m. 

The winner of the super regionals punches their ticket to Salem, Virginia for the eight-team College World Series Thursday, May 28 - Wednesday, June 3.

This regional is a rematch of the 2025 NCAA Regional finals, where the Cardinals took down the Storm 10-2 in game seven. 

Let's see how the two teams match up.

SAINT MARY'S

The Cardinals enter the Super Regionals with a 40-7 record after finishing second in the MIAC to Saint Benedict. The Cardinals went 20-2 in conference action before falling in the championship game to the Bennies. Saint Mary's was awarded the number one seed in their NCAA regional and now are host to the Super Regional. 

They defeated UW-Stevens Point in the opening round then falling to Calvin in the second round. Out of the losers bracket, the Cardinals beat Bethany Lutheran and rallied to win the regional with wins over Calvin 6-1, and 6-4 on Saturday. 

Behind the success is a powerful senior group who accounts for over half the team's experience at this level. Peyton Berg, Kenzie Gatz, Makayla Steffes, and Megan McGinnis each were awarded All-Region IX First Team honors, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and each a part of the conference's postseason recognition as All-Conference players.

Abbie Stigler also received an All-Conference nod while Naleyah Bork and Karli Zetah were Honorable Mentions this season. At regionals, the team had a .354 batting average in recording 50 hits for half of those leading to 25 RBI's. 

At the mound, Steffes and Gatz were a force to be reckoned with. They struck out 17 batters. Gatz was especially crucial in the game seven win as she pitched a complete game while going 3-for-4 from the plate while striking out three and held a 2.50 ERA, picking up her 18th win of the season.

SIMPSON

Simpson earned its spot in the supers after knocking off Saint Benedict in a dramatic seventh-inning comeback in the regional final 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. The trip to the supers marks the first appearance for the Storm in program history and the deepest postseason since the 1999 National Championship season.

Simpson heads to the super regionals with a 37-6 record, the most wins in a single season since 2000 with 42. As a team, Simpson has posted a .347 batting average, averaging 7.33 runs per game while only giving up 2.81 runs. All-Region selections Ashlyn Steen and Megan Heidelbauer command the top of the order for the Storm, with A-R-C Player of the Year Steen hitting .500/.591/.826 with five home runs and 29 RBIs. Heidelbauer, who was named the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player heads to the supers with a .420/.462/.769 slash line with a team-leading eight home runs and 66 RBis.

Third basemen Caelynn Obleton, and right fielder Katie Shaner were also selected NFCA second team All-Region, while left fielder Mackenzie James was named to the All-Tournament team over the weekend.

In the circle, Simpson features two aces in NFCA first team All-Region and All-Tournament selection Marina Cronin and A-R-C first team honoree Emma LaFave. Cronin appeared in 26 games, going 16-2 with a 2.07 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 115 innings of work. LaFave leads the team in wins at 17-3 with 13 complete games and a 2.36 ERA and 97 punchouts in 121.2 innings.
 

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Below is the complete schedule of games.

THURSDAY, MAY 21st
Game 1 | 2:00 PM CT
Simpson (37-6)  vs. Saint Mary's University (40-7)

FRIDAY, MAY 22nd
Game 2 | 1:00 PM CT
Simpson (37-6)  vs. Saint Mary's University (40-7)

Game 3 (if necessary) | 3:30 PM CT
Simpson (37-6)  vs. Saint Mary's University (40-7)

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TICKETING

Advance tickets for this week's NCAA Softball Super Regional in Winona are available now. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate using credit/debit.

We cannot wait to fill the stands with the Cardinal community for what will be the final home game of the 2025-26 school year.