ANGOLA, Ind. – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball was back in the NCAA Tournament Regionals for the first time since __ on Saturday. UW-Eau Claire held the tough task of upsetting the regional hosts, No. 4 Trine University, to advance to the NCAA Super Regional round. With windy conditions and one of the best pitchers in the country in the circle for the Thunder, the Blugolds fell 9-1 in five innings as their season came to an end.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The fourth ranked Thunder came out fast with four runs on six and one error in the bottom of the first. With three RBI singles and a bases loaded ground out, the Blugold defense was tested early.
- The Blugolds answered in the top of the second inning as Claire Beck rocketed a home run over the center field wall on the first pitch of the inning to cut the deficit to 4-1. Norah Kutnick followed Beck's sixth home run of the season with a double over the center fielder's head but was stranded on third with three consecutive outs to follow.
- After a scoreless second, the momentum and wind shifted in the Thunder's favor as they tallied five runs on three home runs in the bottom of the third.
- Jacie Schultz (13-6) assessed the loss and recorded the only strikeout of the contest for Eau Claire in her two innings pitched. Lauren Trottier came in for relief in the third and shutout all five batters she faced.
UW-Eau Claire's
Kenna Strunsee,
Molly Marquardt, and
Brooklyn Swanepoel were named to the regional's All-Tournament Team.
The Blugolds finish the 2025 season with a 29-16 overall record, a 7-7 conference record, and a 2-3 postseason record. With an appearance in the regional final, UWEC ended their season as one of the last 32 Division III teams in the NCAA Tournament.
