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Wartburg College Knights
Jenna Wiebenga vs Dominican
Roland Ferrie
8
Winner Wartburg WARTBURG
4
Dominican (Ill.) DOMINICA
Winner
Wartburg WARTBURG
8
Final
4
Dominican (Ill.) DOMINICA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wartburg WARTBURG 0 0 0 6 0 2 0 8 10 3
Dominican (Ill.) DOMINICA 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 9 1

W: Klever, Katelyn (13-5) L: Rhiannon Rubio (9-5) S: Dyer, Lauren (2)

0
Wartburg WARTBURG
7
Winner Ill. Wesleyan ILL. WES
Wartburg WARTBURG
0
Final
7
Ill. Wesleyan ILL. WES
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wartburg WARTBURG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3
Ill. Wesleyan ILL. WES 5 0 2 0 0 0 X 7 10 2

W: Caroline Gatchell (8-4) L: Hoefer, Hannah (13-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

No. 23 Softball Defeats Dominican 8-4; Falls to IWU in Regional Semifinal

WAVERLY, Iowa --- No. 23 softball was able to fend off elimination to start the day as the Knights defeated Dominican (IL) 8-4, but Wartburg fell to Illinois Wesleyan in the regional semifinal round to close the 2026 season with an overall record of 32-12 (14-2 A-R-C).
 
Wartburg's 32 wins are the most in a season for the Knights since 2009 and marks the 10th 30+ win season in program history.
 
Game Summary
  • Wartburg 8, Dominican 4
    • First Inning
    • Reagan Hassell recorded the first hit of the game in a scoreless top of the first for the Knights
    • Dominican took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning after an RBI double scored one run
    • Fourth Inning
    • After scoreless innings in the second and third innings for both sides, the Knights offense caught fire and put up six runs in the top of the fourth to jump in front 6-1 headed to the bottom half
      • Hassel began the inning with a double and was brought home in Wartburg's next at bat with an RBI single from Addy Wells, who was brought home next after an RBI double from Jenna Wiebenga
      • Bella Mulder reached base to move Wiebenga to third before she was scored by a single from Liz Kruckenberg to make the score 3-1
      • Amanda Strzyzewski reached base on a fielders choice and Mulder was able to score after a fielding error at second
      • Ally Happ drove in a run with an RBI single to left field before she eventually scored after Hassel reached on a fielders choice that allowed Happ to score from second and make the score 6-1
    • Dominican responded in the bottom half with two runs to close the gap to 6-3 with three innings left to play
    • Fifth Inning
    • After a scoreless top half for Wartburg, the Stars took advantage of two hits and two errors to close the gap to 6-4 with two innings left to play
    • Sixth Inning
      • The Knights answered in the next inning by getting two runs back after two doubles and a hit by pitch
        • Strzyzewski led off the inning by getting hit with a pitch before she was brought home by an RBI double from Alexis Larson
        • Larson and Maddie Buskohl traded places after Buskohl used a pinch-hit opportunity to double and make the score 8-4
    • Seventh Inning
      • Lauren Dyer closed out a three inning save for the Knights inside the circle to help the Knights survive to the next round with an 8-4 win over the Stars.
  • Illinois Wesleyan 7, Wartburg 0
    • First Inning
      • The Titans came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning and used four hits and two errors in the field to take a 5-0 lead after one inning
    • Third Inning
      • Carley Bredar singled to shallow right field to give the Knights their first hit of the game, but the score remained 5-0 after three innings of play
    • Fourth Inning
      • The Knights loaded the bases up in the top half of the fourth, but Illinois Wesleyan was able to escape the jam with back-to-back outs
        • Both Addy Wells and Jenna Wiebenga reached base after fielding errors from IWU
        • Sophie Stanic singled down the right field line to load the bases, but the Titans used a strikeout and a popout to escape the inning unscathed
    • Sixth Inning
      • Hassel singled up the middle and was stranded in the fifth inning before Wiebenga singled in the sixth and was also stranded by the IWU defense
    • Seventh Inning
      • Larson was hit by a pitch to lead off the final inning, but the Knights were unable to overcome the seven-run deficit as Illinois Wesleyan advanced to the championship round of regional play
 
Postgame Press Conference (Jamie Mueller and the Wartburg senior class)

 
Top Performers  
Notes/Streaks
  • Wartburg's senior class made an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of their four years
    • 105 total wins over the four-year span
  • The Knights are now 3-0 all-time against the Stars
  • Hassel closed the 2026 season with 61 hits, which is the sixth most in program history in a single season
  • Wartburg's final single season team records totals:
    • Walks (142)
    • Stolen bases (170)
  • Klever moved to 13-5 in decisions and Dyer earned her second save of the season
  • Seven different Knights recorded one RBI against Dominican
  • Eighth career NCAA tournament win for Mueller
  • With five doubles against Dominican, Wartburg moved its season total to 80
    • Leaders: Hassel (13), Mulder (13), Wiebenga (10) and Larson (nine)
    • 126 total extra-base hits as a team
  • Wartburg finishes the 2026 season 2-2 against IWU
    • IWU leads the all-time series 8-3
  • First time being shutout all season for Wartburg
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