Fresh off capturing the first MIAC playoff title in program history, the College of Saint Benedict softball team is headed to Iowa to begin NCAA Division III tournament play.
The Bennies (33-9) – who also captured sole possession of the MIAC regular-season title – take on Central (Iowa) (29-12) in their first game as part of a four-team, double-elimination regional pod hosted by American Rivers Conference playoff champion Simpson (Iowa) on Thursday (May 14) in Indianola, Iowa.
The Storm (34-5) – who defeated Loras (Iowa) 6-1 in the American Rivers playoff championship game – take on Greenville (Illinois) (31-11) in the other first-round game at the site.
CSB beat St. Mary’s 9-7 in Saturday’s MIAC championship game. The Bennies – who have won 22-straight games – are making their fourth NCAA appearance since 2018 and their first since 2024.
CSB is ranked No. 20 in the most recent FCA/GoRout Division III top 25 coaches poll. Simpson is ranked No. 10.
“It really means a lot,” senior pitcher Ellie Peterson said of the tournament bid. “We had a clear goal going into this season that we wanted to win the conference, and as a senior class, we wanted to end our careers in the NCAA tournament. Now we get that opportunity.”
Central – which fell 5-0 to Loras in the first round of the American Rivers playoffs – is 2-0 against MIAC competition this season, having opened the year with wins over St. Catherine (5-3) and Gustavus (8-3) indoors in Mankato on Feb. 14.
The Bennies and Dutch last met during the 2024 season, splitting a nonconference doubleheader. Central won game one 8-1 and CSB took game two 6-3. They were scheduled to meet again last season, but a scheduled home doubleheader at CSB had to be cancelled due to weather.
“It’s super exciting (to be back in the NCAA tournament),” senior catcher Bryn Ruhberg said. “Especially for us as seniors. It’s been a goal this entire season.
“Just to get at least one more week to play with the people that we’ve played with for four years now is super exciting.”