Softball Claims 2025 WHAC Tournament Title - Punches Ticket to Nationals
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northwestern Ohio | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
|
#9 Madonna | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
LIVONIA, MI - For the first time since 2018, Northwestern Ohio softball can call themselves the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament Champions after another convincing win over No. 9 Madonna on Monday. The Racers run-ruled the Crusaders in the semifinals Friday and kept the momentum rolling into the final game taking down the WHAC Regular Season champions 9-3.
UNOH fell behind early giving up two runs in the first inning of the championship but answered with their own pair in the second to tie the game. Madonna added their third in the home half but it would be their last of the game. A monster fourth blew the game open for the Racers stringing three singles, a double and a triple for a five-run frame and a 7-3 lead. A RBI double added a final two runs for UNOH in the sixth while holding the Crusaders without a hit over the final two innings to lift the tournament trophy.
Anna Ankney capped one of the best tournament performances in program history with her fourth multi-hit game. Over the four games, Ankney drove in nine RBI hitting 12-15 with three doubles, two triples and two home runs for a blistering slugging percentage of 1.667. Cecilia Campbell led the final game with a career high four RBI on a 2-3 outing. Tess Denning brought in three RBI with her and Hailee Edgell both finishing 2-4 at the dish.
Freshman Lanie Wooten set the program's single season wins record with her 24th of the year going the distance for the 15th time. Wooten allowed two earned runs on six hits with just one walk.
UNOH has now punched their ticket to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round for just the second time in program history. The Racers' site and opponents will be revealed during the NAIA Selection Show which takes place Wednesday, May 7 at 6:00 PM. Opening Round play begins May 12 and runs through May 15 for a trip to the NAIA World Series.
