INDIANOLA, Iowa - In a rematch of the 2025 NCAA Regional finals, the Simpson Storm head up to Winona, Minn. to face Saint Mary's in the Super Regionals starting on Thursday, May 21.
Simpson earned its spot in the supers after knocking off Saint Benedict in a dramatic seventh-inning comeback in the regional final 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. The trip to the supers marks the first appearance for the Storm in program history and the deepest postseason since the 1999 National Championship season.
The two-day, three-game super regional to determine who will advance to the College World Series begins on Thursday with a single game scheduled for 2 p.m. The Storm and the Cardinals will then face off Friday at 1 p.m., with the if-necessary game at 3:30 p.m. The winner of the super regionals punches their ticket to Salem, Va. for the eight-team College World Series taking place Thursday, May 28 through Wednesday, June 3.
Simpson heads to the super regionals with a 37-6 record, the most wins in a single season since 2000 (42). As a team, Simpson has posted a .347 batting average, averaging 7.33 runs per game while only giving up 2.81 runs. All-Region selections Ashlyn Steen and Megan Heidelbauer command the top of the order for the Storm, with A-R-C Player of the Year Steen hitting .500/.591/.826 with five home runs and 29 RBIs. Heidelbauer, who was named the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player heads to the supers with a .420/.462/.769 slash line and a team-leading eight home runs and 66 RBIs.
Third basemen Caelynn Obleton and right fielder Katie Shaner were also selected NFCA second team All-Region, while left fielder Mackenzie James was named to the All-Tournament team over the weekend.
In the circle, Simpson features two aces in NFCA first team All-Region and All-Tournament selection Marina Cronin and A-R-C first team honoree Emma LaFave. Cronin appeared in 26 games, going 16-2 with a 2.07 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 115 innings of work. LaFave leads the team in wins at 17-3 with 13 complete games and a 2.36 ERA and 97 punchouts in 121.2 innings.
Saint Mary's enters the Super Regionals with a 40-7 record after finishing second in the MIAC to Saint Benedict. The Cardinals went 20-2 in conference action before falling in the championship game to the Bennies. Saint Mary's was awarded the number one seed in their NCAA regional. SMU defeated UW-Stevens Point in the opening round before falling to Calvin in the second round. Out of the losers bracket, the Cardinals beat Bethany Lutheran and rallied to win the regional with 6-1 and 6-4 wins over Calvin on Saturday.
Live stats and video of the super regionals will be available for free on NCAA.com and simpsonathletics.com. Tickets for the event are available for purchase here.
About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
