BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Trine University softball team will face top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University in a best of three series to decide the winner of the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

It is the third time in the last four seasons that the Thunder have competed for a national championship. In 2022 the team finished as runners-up before returning in 2023 and securing the Trine University's first team NCAA Division III national championship.

The Thunder entered the tournament ranked fifth in the nation by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the NCAA's National Power Index (NPI). The Marlins were second in the NPI and third according to the NFCA. Upon reaching the final eight, Virginia Wesleyan has served as the top seed with Trine sitting as the third seed.

Trine reached the series in three games at the final site. They opened the week with an 8-0 run rule victory against the University of Redlands before knocking off second-seeded Rowan University 5-1. On Sunday the team played an instant classic against Linfield University, with the two teams combining for seven home runs. April Sellers, Debbie Hill and Tyra Marcum each went long for the Thunder, while Macy Rocha came up with a two-RBI single and Emma Beyer had an RBI single. It was Karley Trine who sealed the win with a walk-off sac fly in the bottom of the eighth inning. The final score was 10-9.

Virginia Wesleyan needed an extra game to reach the final series. They opened the week with a run rule 8-0 victory against Randolph-Macon College before defeating Linfield 8-4 on day two. In the sixth matchup between the two teams this season, the Yellow Jackets finally got a win on Sunday 6-2, forcing a decisive final game. Hannah Hearl pitched for the Marlins in that final contest and held RMC to just one run on three hits while the offense backed her up with a three-run fourth inning to secure the spot in the championship.

The two teams both have an elite hitting presence with the Marlins taking the edge in batting average with a .365 to the Thunder's .360. Trine owns the power statistics boasting a .607 slugging percentage to just a .501 by the opposition, 70 homers compared to just 24 and 85 doubles to 79.

Virginia Wesleyan's offense is led by Morgan Tucker and Laci Campbell. Tucker sits second in the country with 75 RBIs and 21^st with a .490 batting average. Campbell makes her presence known on the base paths sitting first in the nation with 68 runs scored, third with 51 stolen bases and 19^th in stolen base percentage.

Trine on the other hand continues to be led by a pair of titans in the batters' box. Hill is third in the nation with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs, while Marcum sits just behind in fifth with 18 home runs and 16^th with 54 RBIs. Hill's slugging percentage of .984 is fifth in the nation while Marcum's .890 is 14^th.

In the circle, the Marlins hold the edge in team ERA with a 1.61 to the Thunder's 2.17. The teams are nearly tied in WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) and Trine dominates the strikeout to walk ratio category (7.88 to 2.53). Both teams have recorded 17 shoutouts this season.

Virginia Wesleyan has split their appearances between a pair of pitchers this season. Lauren Bible has seen more starts and has racked up a team high 27 victories with a 1.88 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 80 strikeouts. Hearl is the other main thrower and leads the team with a 1.34 ERA, a .90 WHIP and 107 strikeouts.

Trine is led by the spectacular Alexis Michon, who is statistically the best pitcher by far on either team. She leads the nation with a 37.60 strikeouts to walk ratio and a .53 WHIP while sitting second with just 0.24 walks per seven innings and 3.47 hits allowed per seven innings. Her 0.76 ERA is third in the nation, and she is fifth with 10 shutouts.

Tuesday, June 3 will be the fourth matchup between the programs and the first since 2023. Virginia Wesleyan currently holds a 2-1 series lead. Game one is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET. The teams are guaranteed to meet a second time this week on Wednesday, June 4 at the same time. In the event of a split, they would follow up with a decisive game three at 1:30 p.m. CT / 2:30 p.m. ET.

All of the games can be watched for free in the Championships Pass on NCAA.com or you can follow live stats on NCAA.com or as provided on Illinois Wesleyan University's website.