Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team has secured a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Blugolds will face Baldwin Wallace in the opening round of the Trine Regional, scheduled for Thursday at SportONE/Parkview Softball Field in Angola, Indiana. The game is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

The Blugolds earned an at-large bid with a season record of 27-14. Their opponent, Baldwin Wallace, also received an at-large bid and enters the tournament with a 31-4 record.

Blugolds Head Coach Leslie Huntington expressed confidence in her team's capabilities: "(The team) believed in their ability, they believed in the program, they believed in the culture. They believed they could do it," she said. "We've got a tall task in front of us now, but I think we've got a foundation of belief, and I think anything can happen."

This marks UW-Eau Claire's first NCAA appearance since 2022 and its 14th overall. The team holds a historical NCAA Tournament record of 38-24 and has finished among the top four nationally on four occasions, including winning a national championship in 2008.

The Trine regional follows a double-elimination format from May 15-18. Other teams competing include host Trine with a record of 36-5 and Pittsburgh Greensburg at 21-17. The winner will move on to super regionals from May 23-25.

Blugolds outfielder Paige Lathrop commented on facing Baldwin Wallace: "I don't know much about Baldwin Wallace, but I know they'll be good competition," she said. "I'm excited to see how the game goes and give us another chance to make a run."

For ticketing information and updates throughout the week, visit Blugolds.com.

Stay connected with the Blugolds all season through their website or via social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.