We have some of the most exciting times of the spring season ahead of us while we still reflect on what was a memorable spring season.
BASEBALL FALLS IN MIAC PLAYOFFS
Returning back to the conference playoffs for the first time since the 2024 season, the Saint Mary’s baseball team (25-17) capped off their 2026 season making it to the elimination game before falling to the Macalester Scots and the Saint John’s Johnnies last weekend at CHS Field.
The Cardinals took care of business creating the upset of the tournament by taking down the top seeded Bethel Royals in an exciting 8-6 11-inning game with some late heroics to lunch game one of the MIAC tournament. The team moved on to face Macalester, who ultimately went on to win the title, and lost 11-4 before being eliminated from moving to championship Saturday by the Johnnies, 9-8.
Post-season awards will be announced later this week.
TRACK AND FIELD BOASTS THREE AWARDS AT CHAMPIONSHIPS
It was a highly successful for the women’s track and field program at the MIAC Outdoor Championships this past weekend. The Cardinals competed at St. Olaf for the championships where three Cardinals took home individual titles, each being their consecutive conference title.
Sophomore Mya Slavin turned in her first championship performance in the women’s 800-meter run, capturing the MIAC title with a time of 2:10.85. Slavin’s victory came after already claiming an individual conference championship in the mile during the indoor season, further cementing her place among the conference’s elite middle-distance runners.
The Cardinals also dominated the women’s sprint events as sophomore Zari Young raced to a conference title in the 100-meter dash, clocking a winning time of 11.93. Senior Samantha Munson followed with a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash in 25.22, giving Saint Mary’s two more MIAC champions who also swept individual titles during the indoor championships earlier this year.
Up next for the teams is a Last Chance Meet, hosted at UW-La Crosse on Thursday, May 14 were the Cardinals compete for one last chance to get qualifying marks and times for the eventual NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships next weekend, also at UW-La Crosse.
Mya Slavin currently ranks 20th in the nation for the 800m and holds the qualifying time. Each individual needs a top 22 mark in order to qualify.
SOFTBALL SET TO HOST NCAA SOFTBALL REGIONALS
The No. 8 Saint Mary’s softball team competed last Saturday in the MIAC Softball Tournament and was in the hunt for a three-peat MIAC title. That historic nod was broken as the host team, Saint Benedict, won its programs first title for the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Because the Cardinals had such a dominant regular season, they never worried about it being their final game together.
On Monday morning, the NCAA announced the field for the 2026 Division III Softball Championship and for the second consecutive season the Saint Mary’s softball team (36-6) was selected to host the tournament’s first round Regional. It was a thrilling wait for the Cardinals as they were one of the final four teams to be announced.
The tournament is scheduled to start this Thursday, May 14-16 at the SMU Softball Field.
The Cardinals, ranked 11th in the NPI, will open up the four team regional facing UW-Stevens Point Pointers (30-13), ranked 50th, on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. CT. Following game one, Bethany Lutheran Vikings (32-9), ranked 36th, will play the Calvin Knights (30-13), ranked 33rd, at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Saint Mary’s is no stranger to hosting this large scale event. The Cardinals are excited to welcome three teams from across the three different states as they hosted the programs first ever regional a season ago. A season where the Cardinals finished the postseason winning the Winona Regional and going on to win the Winona Super Regional for their second trip to the College World Series.
Head softball coach John Tschida expresses that the team and the community is happy to be back home.
“This is good for our kids and their families,” said Tschida. “Hosting is easier for our amazing supporters to have the chance to watch.”
“We hope to have more family, friends, the community, and the young teams in the area come to support, we have such a strong community of softball.”
It will be a memorable experience for everyone involved as we get set for an exciting weekend of softball.
The double elimination bracket will continue Friday and Saturday with the regional winner advancing to the Super Regional May 21-23.
It will be a busy week in Cardinal athletics and pushing for some national honors. Go Cardinals!
