One of the most successful season in Virginia Wesleyan softball history came to a heartbreaking conclusion Friday afternoon as Linfield University rallied late for a 3-2 victory over the Marlins in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals at Moyer Complex.
Virginia Wesleyan finishes the season with a remarkable 50-2 overall record after entering the national championship tournament undefeated at 50-0.
The Marlins struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Riley Curtice worked a walk before Sarah Prosser followed with another free pass. After Laci Campbell loaded the bases with a walk of her own, Samantha Deitsch delivered a clutch RBI single to center field, bringing home Curtice and giving Virginia Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.
VWU added another run in the third inning. Alison Pollack opened the frame with a walk and was replaced on the bases by Cali Megaro. Olivia Knight dropped down a bunt single before Emma Adams advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Curtice then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Megaro to score and extend the Marlins' advantage to 2-0.
Virginia Wesleyan appeared firmly in control behind another strong pitching effort from Adams, who kept Linfield off the scoreboard through five innings while the defense continually turned away scoring threats.
The Wildcats finally broke through in the sixth inning. A leadoff double and a following single put runners at the corners before Linfield plated its first run on an RBI groundout. Moments later, Emily Foytack lined a two-out RBI single through the left side to even the contest at 2-2.
In the seventh inning, Linfield found the decisive run. Breanna Bartek led off with a single and advanced into scoring position before McKenna Parmelee delivered an RBI single down the right-field line to put the Wildcats ahead 3-2.
Virginia Wesleyan mounted one final threat in the bottom half of the seventh. Knight worked a leadoff walk and Laney Pearce entered as a pinch runner, but Linfield recorded the final three outs to secure the victory and end the Marlins' season.
Deitsch finished 2-for-2 with an RBI while drawing three walks. Morgan Tucker added two hits as part of another outstanding performance at the plate. Knight and Prosser each recorded a hit, while Curtice drove in a run and scored another.
Adams suffered her first loss of the season after another strong outing in the circle, finishing the year with a 23-1 record. Hannah Hearl came on in relief during the seventh inning as the Marlins battled until the final out.
While the ending was not the one Virginia Wesleyan envisioned, the 2026 Marlins authored one of the greatest seasons in NCAA Division III softball history. The squad won its first 50 games of the season, captured the ODAC Championship, earned a return trip to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals, and finished with a program-elite 50 victories. Virginia Wesleyan closed the year ranked among the national leaders in nearly every statistical category, posting a .402 team batting average while limiting opponents to just a .161 average and a microscopic 0.68 team ERA. Led by a veteran core, dominant pitching staff, and one of the most explosive offenses in the country, the Marlins set a standard that will be remembered as one of the finest campaigns ever produced by the program and one of the most dominant seasons in Division III softball history.
You can find the postgame press conference Here.
