GRAPEVINE, Tex. - Twelve hours after the University of Northwestern played CIU, they took the field against No. 4 seed Wayland Baptist University on Championship Wednesday. The Eagles didn't lack scoring opportunities, leaving 10 runners on base throughout the game. Despite the opportunities and out-hitting the Pioneers 7-4, UNW couldn't push any runners across home plate, falling 3-0 for their first loss of the NCCAA World Series. Since the tournament was double-elimination, the Eagles still had a chance to compete in a winner-take-all championship game against Southwestern Christian University. On Monday, UNW beat SCU 9-3, and on Wednesday, they completed the sweep with a 4-1 victory to claim the NCCAA National Championship.
GAME ONE: WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS
After going three-and-out in the first and allowing one run in the bottom of the frame, UNW found some action at the plate when
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) hit a double to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball with only one out. As would become the story of the game, she was left stranded as the Pioneers recorded the final two outs. Defensively, UNW retired three in a row to move to the third inning.
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) opened the third with a double, and
Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) worked a walk. Both were left on base before another three-up, three-down home half of the inning. Two of the three outs were swinging strikeouts thrown by
Kailynn Duncan (Barron, Wis./Barron) in the circle.
In the fourth, Keith notched another hit with a single to center field. Wayland continued to shut down the Eagle offense, stranding Keith for the second time in the game. UNW responded by stranding one Wayland runner with a double play that ended with
Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) applying a tag at home plate to keep the Eagles within one.
Schoper again kick-started the Eagles with a double in the fifth and stole third. Storey worked a walk to put runners on the corners. However, both were again left stranded. In the bottom of the fifth, WBU plated two more runs to take a 3-0 lead.
Keith again got on base with a single up the middle, and
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony) entered to run for her.
Trista Oberle (Hudson, Wis./Homeschool) hit a laser up the middle to move Morrissey to third.
Jenna Nusbaum (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) pinch-hit for Lexvold and worked a walk to load the bases, but once again, the Eagles left the runners stranded.
Keith had a standout day, going 3-for-3 at the plate. Schoper went 2-for-4, while Storey and Oberle recorded the other two Eagle hits. Duncan, making the start in the circle, threw 4.2 innings with five strikeouts and three earned runs. Morrissey closed for Northwestern with 1.1 innings and one strikeout.
UNW had a one-game break while Wayland Baptist and Southwestern Christian played to determine who would face the Eagles in the final game of the season for the NCCAA National Championship. With the win over Wayland, Southwestern Christian University earned the right to face Northwestern in a winner-takes-all championship game.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES
Both teams got on base in the first, but neither found home plate. In the top of the second, UNW grabbed two quick outs with the help of a diving catch from
Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson), but SCU loaded the bases and scored first. The Eagles limited the damage to one run as they moved into the bottom of the frame. Keith continued her perfect day with a single on the second pitch she saw. The graduate moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy).
Emma Westrate (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek) entered to run for Keith and sprinted to third on a flyout from Oberle. Lexvold and Nusbaum walked to load the bases. A single down the right field line from Schoper scored two Northwestern runs to give UNW the 2-1 lead, a lead they would never surrender.
With seven pitches,
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) and the outfield retired all three batters in the top of the third.
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) split three defenders for the opening single of the bottom of the inning. Keith forced a choice and moved to second on a single from Trump. SCU kept the score close by recording the final out and stranding both runners.
After another three-up, three-down inning, UNW scored its third run of the game. Schoper hit a single and scored all the way from first on Storey's huge double. Defensively, the Eagles stopped nearly everything SCU tried to do. For the third out, Lexvold connected with
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) for a throwdown at second to end the inning.
In the fifth, Edwards and Trump led off with singles to put runners on the corners. Oberle's hit brought home Edwards for the final Eagle run of the game.
The seventh inning felt like a lifetime as the Eagles stood only three outs away from a national championship. The first out came on an incredible diving catch from Van Ess in foul territory. Storey collected the second out, settling under a fly ball in center field. Finally, on three pitches, Strubbe delivered a swinging strikeout to seal the game. With the strikeout, the University of Northwestern softball team became the 2026 NCCAA National Champions in the program's first-ever tournament appearance.
Edwards and Trump both went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Schoper finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Storey and Keith added the other two hits of the game. Strubbe went the distance in her final game, allowing four hits, one earned run, and striking out two. As the UNW career strikeout record holder, it was only fitting that her final memory in an Eagle uniform would be delivering a swinging strikeout to clinch a national championship.
The celebration commenced, and Northwestern deservedly soaked in every emotion. During the awards ceremony, Strubbe, Schoper, and Keith were named to the All-Tournament Team, while Strubbe was honored as Tournament MVP. Strubbe finished the week with 24 innings pitched, 16 strikeouts, and 22 hits allowed. Schoper recorded seven hits, two RBI, and three doubles. Keith closed the tournament with eight hits, two runs scored, eight RBI, two doubles, and a home run across five games.
The Eagles finished 33-16, breaking the program's single-season records for both games played and wins. They say goodbye to seniors Keith, Nusbaum, Strubbe, and Schoper, who ended their careers in the best way possible, hoisting a national championship trophy and leaving behind a legacy that will last forever!
