Grinnell softball set for rematch with Belhaven in NCAA D-III Tourney regional game

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Grinnell College will see a somewhat familiar foe when it opens NCAA Division III Softball Tournament regional action Thursday afternoon.

The Pioneers will square off against 10th-ranked Belhaven University of Jackson, Miss., at 2:30 p.m. on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Grinnell faced the Blazers on Feb. 25 at the Fontbonne Tournament, with Belhaven grabbing a 7-0 lead through two innings before holding off a furious Pioneer rally for a 7-5 victory.

The 27-14 and third-seeded Pioneers are riding a hot streak, having won 14 of their last 15 including a 3-0 mark in last weekend's Midwest Conference Tournament. Grinnell defeated MWC regular-season champion Lake Forest College twice in the tourney, including an 11-7 victory in the title game.

Grinnell's offense has been spectacular all season, ranking seventh nationally with 7.88 runs per game. As a team, Grinnell is hitting .354 which ranks 20th nationally. Four Grinnell batters are hitting over .400, including Hannah Dykstra '25 (.416), Samantha Chu '24 and Taylor Durak '24 (.415) and Kambria Anson '24 (.411). Chu ranks among the national leaders with 59 runs scored and Durak, the MWC Position Player of the Year, is among the best in RBIs with 57.

On the pitching front, Christin Hartman '24 and Kathryn Vermeulen '24 have been getting it done as starters and Emma Trani '26 in relief. Hartman is 12-4 with a 2.45 ERA and 57 strikeouts, while Vermeulen is 11-7 with a 3.54 ERA and 59 Ks. Trani has a 1.48 ERA in 16 appearances with a 4-0 record, three saves and 20 strikeouts.

Second-seeded Belhaven enters Thursday's game with a 37-6 mark and won the Collegiate Conference of the South regular-season title. The Blazers lost to Maryville in the league tournament championship game.

Like Grinnell, Belhaven's offense is potent with a team batting average of .345. Top hitters include Katie Jo Richardson (.433), Ellie Jones (.422), Anna Caime (.400) and Allie Gordon (.397). The Blazers boast a 1.75 team ERA, and the top pitcher has been Kennedy Carruth who is 21-3 with a 1.06 ERA and 191 strikeouts. Macy Funderburk has also been steady, going 6-0 with a 0.34 ERA and 45 Ks.

Other teams in the regional are top-seeded Washington University and fourth-seeded Greenville University.

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Players Mentioned

#26 Kambria Anson: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

#88 Samantha Chu: IF; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

#23 Taylor Durak: OF; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#4 Hannah Dykstra: OF/UT; 5' 4"; Junior; L/R

#15 Christin Hartman: P; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#14 Emma Trani: P; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#11 Kathryn Vermeulen: P/OF; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#26 Kambria Anson
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#88 Samantha Chu
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#23 Taylor Durak
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#4 Hannah Dykstra
: 5' 4"; Junior; L/R
: OF/UT

#15 Christin Hartman
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P

#14 Emma Trani
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#11 Kathryn Vermeulen
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: P/OF