The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team (49-6-1, 21-1 ODAC) was defeated by Trine 3-1 in the National Championship Series to finish Runner-Up for the 2025 season.
Olivia Knight and
Morgan Tucker were selected to the NCAA National Championship All-Tournament team.
It has been a special year for the Marlins Softball, and despite coming Runner-Up they have so much to be proud of; ODAC Player of the Year, ODAC Rookie of the Year, Eight All-ODAC Recipients, NCAA Regional Winners, NCAA Super Regional Winners, Five All-Region Players, Two All-Americans for the first time since the 2021 season, and made it back to the National Championship series for the first time since 2021. This team embodied what it means to be a Marlin on and off the field.
Laci Campbell led the team going 1-for-3, stole a base, and scored the lone run for the Marlins.
Samantha Deitsch was 1-for-3 with a double and teammate
Hannah Hearl pitched 6.1 innings allowed five hits, three runs, and had five strikeouts.
The Marlins started well as
Laci Campbell singled down the right-field line. Then, she stole second and scored on a throwing error by the catcher to take a 1-0 lead.
Hannah Hearl and the defense played awesome holding Trine scoreless through five innings. In the top of the sixth, Trine had two runners on with a walk and a single to put runners on first and second, then a home run to right center gave the Thunder a 3-1.
Virginia Wesleyan was not done yet; in the seventh inning,
Samantha Deitsch hit a double to right-center, putting a runner in scoring position for the hot-hitting
Olivia Knight. Knight fought hard in the at-bat but couldn't bring home Deitsch and the Marlins fell 3-1 to Trine.
