2026 NWC Softball Championship Digital Game Program

Live Stats

Ticketing Info

Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University softball team won its first Northwest Conference regular season title since 2003 on April 25 and will serve as host of the 2026 NWC Tournament for the first time in program history.

As regular season champion, PLU will be the overall number one seed and will be joined by second seed Linfield University, third seed Lewis & Clark College, and fourth seed George Fox University at the double elimination event.

Tournament Schedule:
Friday, May 1st
Game 1 - 10 AM - #1 Pacific Lutheran vs. #4 George Fox
Game 2 - 12:30 PM - #2 Linfield vs. #3 Lewis & Clark
Game 3 - 3 PM - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (Loser Eliminated)
Game 4 - 5:30 PM - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Sunday, May 3rd
Game 5 - 11 AM - Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 (Loser Eliminated)
Game 6 - 1:30 PM - Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 7 - 4 PM - Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 (If Necessary)

Ticketing Info: Tickets for the 2026 NWC Tournament are $12 for Adults. $10 for Military and Seniors. $5 for Youth (12 and under). Tickets are good for the entire day.

Spectator Parking: Parking will be limited and first come, first serve. Parking Map: LINK

Tournament Facts: This will be the first time since 2021 that Linfield won't be the top seed and host institution for the NWC Tournament. The 2026 edition will be the first time the tournament has been held outside Oregon since a three-year run from 2015 to 2017 when it was hosted by Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.

Now in its 15th year of existence, the NWC Tournament has been won 12 times by Linfield. The only years the Wildcats haven't won the tournament was in 2017 (Whitworth) and 2012 (Pacific Lutheran). There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.

2025 Rewind: Host Linfield won the NWC Tournament title last spring, earning an 8-0 mercy rule win over Lewis & Clark in the Championship Game to punch a ticket to the NCAA Championships. It was the Wildcats third win of the weekend after opening the tournament with a 9-1 win over Pacific Lutheran and closing the day with a 6-0 shutout of George Fox.

Lewis & Clark dropped its opening game 3-1 to George Fox but worked through the tournament with a 4-3 extra innings win to eliminate PLU before edging George Fox 7-5 to earn a spot in the title game.

Team Rosters (PDF)

PLU Roster

PLU Schedule & Results

PLU Season Statistics

The host and top seeded Lutes head into the postseason riding a six game win streak and have won 13 of their last 14 games. PLU won three of four against second-seeded Linfield back on April 18-19 to seize sole possession of first place before clinching the title, the program's first since 2003, with a road sweep last weekend in Spokane.

PLU steamrolled Whitworth University 15-0 and 6-0 to open the weekend on April 25 to clinch the top seed before closing the regular season the following day with 4-1 and 12-0 victories.

As a team, the Lutes rank seventh nationally in RBIs (270), eighth in hits (390), and 10th in field percentage (.973).

Paola Garcia is one of the nation's best hitters, ranking second in NCAA Division III in home runs (13) while sitting third nationally in both hits (68) and RBIs (63). The senior set school single season records for both RBIs and total bases over the weekend and sits on the doorstep of setting single season marks in hits, runs scored, and home runs. Garcia has a team-best .479 batting average and is one of five Lutes hitting above .340 on the year. Kaya Collado is hitting .388 as a first-year while Ashlyn Sera is hitting at a .366 clip. Zoe Smithson logs a .344 average with eight home runs while Kamalani Doctor boasts a .341 average with 38 RBIs and 13 extra base hits.

Inside the circle, Paige Wilson has been dialed in all season. The junior has won four straight NWC Pitcher of the Week honors and ranks 17th in D3 in complete games with 16 in 2026. Wilson has an 18-1 record in 20 appearances with a league best 2.24 earned run average. Wilson has tossed 118.2 innings with 120 strikeouts. Maiya Anderson has been just as dangerous this spring, sporting a 2.62 ERA with 52 strikeouts and a 10-3 record in 82.2 innings of work.

Against the Field: The Lutes hold an 8-4 record against the rest of the tournament field. PLU and Lewis & Clark split the season series at PLU Field on March 25-26. PLU swept the games on the 25th, winning 4-1 and 7-6 but the River Otters bit back the following day with identical 5-4 victories.

PLU took three of four against George Fox on April 3-4 in Newberg, Oregon. PLU won 6-2 in the opener before falling 13-4 in game two. The following day the Lutes grinned out 2-1 and 5-2 wins to earn the series win. Pacific Lutheran also won three of four against Linfield back on April 18-19. The NWC juggernauts split day one with PLU etching out a 1-0 victory in the opener, holding the Wildcats to just two hits before stumbling 15-13 in game two. The following day was all Lutes, winning 6-4 and 7-3.

Tournament History: This is the Lutes' ninth trip to the NWC Tournament with the squad punching a ticket to the postseason in each of the last five seasons. PLU won the tournament in 2012, a season that saw the Lutes also win the NCAA Division III title. PLU has placed runner-up four times (2011, 2013, 2017, 2022) and finished fourth at last season's event in McMinnville.
Linfield Roster

Linfield Schedule & Results

Linfield Season Statistics

The seven-time reigning NWC Tournament Champion Wildcats enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed for the first time since the 2021 season after finishing second in the conference standings.

Linfield closed the season on a four-game win streak, demolishing University of Puget Sound by a combined 37-5 scoreline over the four game series. The Wildcats downed the Loggers 10-4 and 10-0 to begin the series on Aril 25 in McMinnville before wrapping the regular season with 11-0 and 6-1 victories.

The weekend prior, the Wildcats dropped three of four to the Lutes. It was Linfield's first four game series defeat to an NWC opponent since the 2015 season.

The power hitting Cats lead the nation in home runs with 57 on the season and sit second nationally in home runs per game (1.43) and RBIs (313) and sit third in total runs (334), fifth in RBIs per game (7.83) and seventh in doubles (81), hits (390), runs (8.35), and slugging percentage (.577).

Meara Sain leads the Wildcats with a .463 batting average with an NCAA D3 leading 25 doubles. Sain has 57 RBIs and has scored 47 total runs. Ashlyn Aven leads the nation in both home runs (20) and RBIs (72) while sporting a .432 average with 39 runs scored and 14 doubles. Brenna Bartek is the third Linfield player batting above .400, owning a .427 average with a team-best 33 stolen bases. Cydney Hess adds 11 home runs and 25 extra base hits.

Tyler McNeley is Linfield's ace inside the circle with a 2.24 earned run average and a 19-4 record across 26 appearances. McNeley has thrown six shutouts, has two saves and has racked up 135 strikeouts in 140.1 innings of action. McNeely ranks second in the nation in complete games (20) while checking in third in victories and 13th in strikeouts.

Against the Field: Linfield holds a 6-6 record against the rest of the NWC Tournament field. The Wildcats split the series on the road against George Fox back on March 7-8. Linfield pounded out a 7-1 win in the opener before getting run-ruled 10-2 in the sixth inning of game two. Linfield won 6-4 the following day before the hosts stole the series finale 9-6. Linfield fell 5-3 to Lewis & Clark in a marathon 13-inning game on April 11 but took care of business the rest of the weekend, winning 13-3, 14-5, and 5-4. The following weekend the Cats dropped three of four at PLU, taking game two of the series 6-4 but dropping the rest of the games by 1-0, 6-4, and 7-3 scores.

Tournament History: The Wildcats are the only program to have played in all 15 editions of the tournament, winning 12 of them. Linfield has won the last seven editions of the tournament dating back to the 2018 season. The Wildcats finished fourth at the 2017 NWC Tournament and was runner-up in 2012, the only two tournaments they didn't win it all. Linfield has additionally served as host for nine of the 15 tournaments.
L&C Roster

L&C Schedule & Results

L&C Season Statistics

The River Otters head to the postseason having won seven of their last eight games. Lewis & Clark's good fortunes began in Salem back on April 18, downing host Willamette University 2-0 and 5-1 to open the series. The following day was all River Otters, swimming past the Bearcats 6-0 and 9-1. The squad closed out the regular season last weekend at home, taking three of four against Pacific University. The River Otters claimed an 8-0 mercy rule win in the opener before falling 5-1 to the Boxers in game two. The following day was all L&C, scoring 9-0 and 9-1 victories.

The River Otters aren't afraid to play small ball, sitting second nationally in sacrifice bunts with 51 while sitting 19th in NCAA Division III in hit by pitch (30) and 25th in sacrifice flies (16).

Madison Scroggins has a team-best .375 batting average with 10 stolen bases and a team-best 27 runs scored. Kodie Ancheta is a .356 hitter with 22 RBIs and 11 doubles while Emily Patton is hitting at a .350 clip. Harper Campanella leads the team in RBIs with 34 while blasting nine home runs, a number also matched by Makena Dahir.

Maggie O'Leary has seen the bulk of the action inside the circle, logging 133.2 innings with 102 strikeouts and a 2.62 earned run average. O'Leary has a 17-7 record across 27 appearances with two saves and 11 complete games. Charlize Pope has logged 54.2 innings with a 3.07 ERA.

Against the Field: The River Otters are an even .500 (6-6) against the other three teams in the tournament. Lewis& Clark split with host and top seed Pacific Lutheran back on March 25-26 to open the conference slate. The River Otters fell 4-1 and 7-6 on day one but responded the following day with a pair of 5-4 wins on the road. The following weekend Lewis & Clark took three of four over George Fox, sweeping the games at home on March 28 by 5-1 and 4-3 scores before splitting on the road the next day, winning 13-10 and falling 7-5.

Tournament History: This is the River Otters' third straight NWC Tournament appearance and fourth overall as a program. The squad made its first postseason appearance at the 201 NWC Championships, finishing fourth. Lewis & Clark advanced to the NWC Championship Game in both 2024 and 2025, falling to Linfield on both occasions.
GFU Roster

GFU Schedule & Results

GFU Season Statistics

The Bruins closed out the regular season on a high note, having won five of its last six games, including a senior day weekend sweep of Willamette University.

George Fox downed the Bearcats 6-4 and 6-5 back on April 25 before securing 5-1 and 7-6 victories the following day to close out the regular season. The series finale was a nail biter with the Bruins needing a four-run sixth inning to come away with the one run win.

Patience at the plate has paid off for GFU, ranking second in NCAA Division III in walks with 174 on the season. The Bruins aren't just a one-trick pony, ranking seventh nationally in home runs (34), 15th in home runs per game (0.85), and 16th in sacrifice flies (17).

Tinley Taylor leads the team with a .386 batting average and 15 doubles while Corine Doran is a .373 hitter with five home runs and a team-best 36 RBIs. Makayla Noone is GFU's third hitter above .300 with a .345 average with a team-high 30 stolen bases and 22 runs scored. Sami Stadtlander has slammed seven home runs while all told, four total Bruins have at least five home runs.

Three pitchers have seen extensive action for the Bruins with Allison Heater leading the way in appearances (24), earned run average (3.31), and innings pitched (93). Nicole Ledendecker has a team-best 10-4 record with six complete games and a save, while leading the team with 52 strikeouts in 83.2 innings of work. Riley Pirkle had made 20 appearances and has tossed 88.1 innings with 46 punch outs.

Against the Field: The Bruins own a 4-8 record against the rest of the tournament field. The Bruins opened conference play back on March 7-8, earning a split with Linfield. The Bruins dropped the opener 7-1 before taking a 10-2 mercy rule win in game two. The following day saw the Wildcats take game one 6-4 but GFU leveled the series with a 9-6 win in the finale.
Later that month the Bruins dropped three of four against Lewis & Clark. The host River Otters prevailed 5-1 and 4-3 to open the series on the 28th before the series shifted to Newberg the following day. On home turf, GFU dropped game one 13-10 before coming away with a 7-5 win in game two.

The Bruins dropped three of four at home against the NWC Champion Lutes. The teams split day one on April 3 with PLU winning 6-2 in the opener before getting rolled 13-4. The following day PLU etched out 2-1 and 5-2 wins to capture the series.

Tournament History: George Fox has qualified for 11 of the 15 NWC Tournaments, finishing runner-up four times. This is the Bruins' second straight season making the field and 10th time over the last 11 years. In 2025 the Bruins finished third while netting runner-up finishes in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023.