DePauw Earns NCAA Berth, Set for Regional in Minnesota

After capturing a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title and winning the 2025 NCAC Tournament, DePauw (24-13) has punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Tigers earned the conference’s automatic bid following a dramatic postseason run that included wins over Hiram (4-3), Wittenberg (5-2), and Denison (6-5 in 10 innings).

DePauw will compete in the regional round hosted by Saint Mary’s (MN) (39-3) in Winona, Minnesota, beginning Thursday, May 15. The four-team, double-elimination regional will also feature Simpson (31-7) and Husson (27-10).

Action gets underway Thursday with Saint Mary’s facing Husson in Game 1 at 12:00 p.m. (ET), followed by DePauw taking on Simpson at 2:30 p.m. (ET). The tournament will continue Friday with games 3-5 scheduled for 12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. (ET). Saturday’s action will include game 6 at 12:00 p.m. and, if necessary, game 7 at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Saint Mary’s earned its spot in the national tournament by winning the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), while Husson advanced by capturing the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) title and Simpson received an at-large selection out of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C).

DePauw holds a 1-1 all-time record against Saint Mary’s (MN), with both matchups taking place during last year’s NCAA regional in Greencastle. The Tigers have earned one regular-season win over Simpson in 2021 and have never  matched up with Husson, setting up a potential first-ever meeting between the two programs.

This marks DePauw’s 15th NCAA tournament appearance. The Tigers hold a 42-32 all-time record (.571) in national postseason play. Saint Mary’s (MN) is making its eighth appearance and owns a 19-11 record (.633). Husson enters the postseason for the 14th time with a 9-26 mark (.257), while Simpson makes its 17th appearance with a 41-30 record (.577).

The winner of the regional will move on to the Super Regional round, scheduled for May 23-24. The NCAA Division III Finals will be held May 30-June 5 with East Texas Baptist University playing host at Bell Park at Taylor Field in Marshall, Texas.
 

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