SAINT JOSEPH, Minn. – The No. 25-ranked Wartburg College Knights are moving on to the Super Regional round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Knights defeated the College of Saint Benedict 6-5 in the regional championship game.
 
Wartburg came into the championship game undefeated on the weekend. All it took was one game for the Knights to advance to the Super Regional round. Saint Benedict got on the board early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. The Knights got two on the board in the bottom half when Lauren Frerichs reached on an error and advanced to second, scoring Sydney Illg and Kaylie Springer.
 
The Bennies scored in the third and sixth inning to put them up 5-2. The Knights were able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Olivia Brecht walked, scoring Hanna Happ. Frerichs later singled to right field, bringing Illg and Springer across the plate to tie the game 5-5.
 
Wartburg’s Springer walked it off for the Knights in the bottom of the seventh inning when she reached on an error, scoring Sydney Fellows. The final score of the game was 6-5.
 
Ashley Nelson started in the circle for the Knights, throwing 5.1 innings. The sophomore gave up five runs on seven hits and struck out three. Madison Heistand came into pitch the last 1.2 innings for the Knights, recording the win. She improved to a 6-3 record in the circle this season. Heistand recorded two strikeouts in five batters faced.
 
The Knights will face Millikin University in the Super Regional Round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship in a best of three series. The Super Regional site will be announced later this week. The winner of the three game series advances to the NCAA Division III National Championships, held May 26-31 at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia.