ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball team will host the a 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship Super Regional this upcoming Thursday and Friday at SportONE/Parkview Field.
The Thunder advance to the super regional round for the fifth year in a row, after securing a regional title with a pair wins on Saturday, May 16. The Thunder served as the hosts and top seed for the regional and opened competition with a convincing 10-2 victory against Earlham College. They lost their second game to Loras College but earned a spot in the championship with a 10-6 come from behind victory against the University of Rochester (N.Y.).
Trine came from behind again to force a decisive game seven. Emma Lee notched a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning and Debbie Hill closed out the bottom half to secure a 6-5 victory. Tyra Marcum had two homers and Hill added another while Sydney Adolfson pitched a shutout in the final game with the Thunder winning 9-0.
On the other side of the diamond this week will be Muhlenberg College fresh off an upset win in the Medford, Mass. Regional hosted by Tufts University. The Mules are making their 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament after earning an at-large selection. They were second in the Centennial Conference standings this season and now boast a 35-11 overall record.
Muhlenberg went undefeated in their regional, where they served as the third seed. They opened with a victory over Middlebury College before defeating the top-seeded Jumbos to land in the championship bout. They faced the Panthers again in the final game, scoring five runs in the fourth to secure the 7-5 victory. This is the first time the program has won a regional and advanced to the super regional round.
This will be the second meeting ever between the two teams. That other contest took place on a neutral field during spring break in 2015. The Thunder won the game 7-0 after scoring six runs in the first two innings.
Game one of the super regional is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 2 p.m. Game two will be Friday, May 22 at 1 p.m. with a game three following at 3:30 p.m. if necessary. For more information on the Angola, Ind. Super Regional or the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship visit the Tournament Site.
