OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- For the second straight season, Illinois Wesleyan will be playing in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship series with an opening game against St. Catherine University on Thursday, May 25, at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.
 
The Titans and the Wildcats (38-12) square off at 4 p.m. Central time Thursday. A team that has no seniors listed on its 18-player roster, St. Kate's swept their Super Regional over St. Thomas by scores of 1-0 and 8-4. Go here to follow live stats and video streaming.

The Titans' second game in the championship round will be on Friday against either St. John Fisher (41-6) or Williams (36-11). If IWU wins, they would play in a winner's bracket game at 4 p.m. Friday. If the Titans lose their opener, they would play at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

This is the third time overall for IWU to appear in the championship round of the NCAA softball tournament with the other coming in 2003. In 16 appearances, Illinois Wesleyan has a 37-32 overall record in NCAA competition through May 20. Go here for complete listing of IWU in the NCAA.
 
Illinois Wesleyan: Illinois Wesleyan won their third regional title in the last four years and are playing in their sixth straight NCAA postseason … This is the sixth straight year and the 19th time overall for an IWU team to win 30 or more games. The record is 41 wins (41-7) in 2014 … The 36 wins this year is tied for sixth-most in an IWU season. The school mark is 41, set by the 41-7 team in 2014 ... The 49 games played is second to the record 53 played in 2001 ... Sophomore centerfielder Jillian Runyon was named to the first team and freshman shortstop Sam Berghoff was chosen to the second team of the NFCA 2017 Division III All-Great Lakes Region softball teams … A Great Lakes all-region player for the second straight year, Runyon leads the Titans with a .395 average and has school season records with 56 stolen bases and 58 runs scored. Her 68 hits is behind only Brynn Hasse (77, 2003) … Berghoff is second on the team with a .366 average and leads the Titans with 14 doubles, eight home runs, 38 runs batted in and a .655 slugging percentage … Six Illinois Wesleyan players - four first-team and two second-team - were chosen to the all-conference softball squads in the CCIW. The four first-team selections were Berghoff, senior 3B Katie Caulfield, Runyon and junior P Mackenzie Marquis. Two IWU freshmen were selected to the second team - OF Sydney Alery and P Brea Walker ...  IWU regularly starts two sophomores (Runyon and first baseman Julie Josten) and three freshmen (second baseman Shelby Fulk, Berghoff, leftfielder Sydney Alery) … Freshmen Brea Walker (pitcher) and Brittany Murphy (designated hitter) also see substantial playing time ... Illinois Wesleyan has won 14 games in its last at-bat this season and four times in the last six games, all in NCAA play – against Otterbein and Alma in the Regional and both games against Transylvania in the Super Regional.

St. Catherine's: The Wildcats (38-12) are making their second consecutive and second overall appearance in the NCAA Division III softball tournament. On their way to the final eight St. Catherine's defeated Luther College and St. Thomas University in their respective regional finals. The Wildcats earned the NCAA bid as they won the MIAC tournament championship for the first time in program history, in just their second trip to the event. Head coach Colleen Powers, a former MVP and team captain for Big 10 Minnesota, has a 108-58 record in her fourth year at St. Kate's and is 100-33 in the past three seasons after having an 8-25 first season in 2014. Junior Krista Flugstad was named Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Super Regional after giving up just five runs to the Tommies over two games, while shortstop Kylie Macziewski was named Most Outstanding Player after going 4-for-6 with the game-tying home run in game two ... For the season, Flugstad has a 29-5 record with a 1.24 earned run average. She has struck out 149 hitters in 209 innings. Sophomore third baseman Jenna George leads the Wildcats with a .457 batting average and has 11 home runs, 11 doubles and 55 runs batted in. Macziewski is hitting .396 with seven doubles and nine homers and freshman centerfielder Amber Montero bats .388 with 14 doubles and seven round-trippers.
 
St. John Fisher: The No. 8-ranked Cardinals (41-6) are also making their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III softball finals after only being defeated by eventual champion Texas-Tyler in the series last season. St. John Fisher has yet to lose a game this postseason going 3-0 in regional and 2-0 in super regional play. The Cardinals earned the NCAA bid as they won the Empire 8 tournament championship over top-seeded Ithaca College. Head coach Bari Mance as a record of 130-44 in her four seasons at the helm which includes back-to-back 40+ win seasons in 2016 and 2017. Junior Lindsey Thayer was named Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Super Regional after giving up just two runs (one earned) over 15 innings pitched against SUNY Cortland. Thayer allowed just six hits and while walks while striking out 25 batters. In 2017, Thayer amassed 415 strikeouts over 202 1/3 innings pitched en route to a 28-5 record and a sparkling 0.42 earned run average. Senior Kristina Balsano was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Super Regional after her two-run home run in the eighth inning of game two gave St. John the victory. Junior Katie Mazierski leads the team with a .462 batting average. Three Cardinals share the team lead in home runs with seven, but it's sophomore Ashley Prince who leads the team with 43 RBI.
 
Williams: The No. 19-ranked Ephs (36-11) are making their third appearance in the championship round, their first in 11 seasons. Williams defeated Babson two games to one in the Super Regional last week, winning game three 6-1 with all six runs coming in the sixth inning. The Ephs swept their first regional 3-0 after earning an automatic bid from the NESCAC tournament. Head coach Kris Herman has a 408-185-2 record in her 14th year at the helm. Prior to coaching the Ephs, Herman had a 339-164-3 record over 16 seasons at Tufts University. Sophomore Mackenzie Murphy was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Super Regional. Murphy was 2-for-3 from the plate with a game-tying RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. In addition to her performance at the plate, Murphy also pitched six innings in game three allowing three hits and one earned run to improve to 12-5 on the season. Murphy has been instrumental in the Ephs power hitting lineup in 2017, hitting .378 with nine home runs. Lexi Curt leads the team with a .380 batting average alongside a team-best 10 long balls. Jessica Kim and Rebecca Duncan have hit nine and eight home runs respectively. Duncan has been the team ace this season with a 16-4 pitching record alongside a 1.55 earned run average and 122 strikeouts.
 
Trine: The No. 22-ranked Thunder (37-8) are making their second appearance in the NCAA Division III softball championship. On their way to the championship round the Thunder won both the Whitewater regional and the Angola Super Regional with a spotless 5-0 record. Trine earned an at-large bid into the tournament after falling to Alma in the MIAA conference tournament. Head coach Donnie Danklefson has a 14-year record of 414-143 with appearances in 10 NCAA regionals. Sophomore Lainey McCue was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Angola Super Regional after she batted 5-of-8 over the two games. Trine boasts plenty of pop in the lineup however coming into the championship as the nation's leader in home runs with 59. Junior Kaylee Fox leads the Thunder with 16 home runs and recently became the program leader with 45 career long balls. Freshman Carly Bachna is the team leader in batting average hitting .374 with 12 home runs. Freshman Danielle Ray was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Super Regional compiling two wins and two saves with a 2.62 earned run average. Ray (18-3) is the team's leading pitcher with a 1.99 ERA and 154 strikeouts.
 
Amherst: This is Amherst's first time playing in the eight-team NCAA softball national championship. With a 33-10 record, the Mammoths were winners of both the Springfield regional and the Amherst Super Regional where they defeated Ramapo in two games. Amherst received an at-large bid into the NCAA Regionals after falling to fellow final eight competitor Williams in the NESCAC conference tournament. Head coach Jessica Johnson has a three-year record of 73-34 after she spent eight seasons at Brandeis University and two seasons at Mount Ida College. Junior Gina Pagan was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Super Regional after she struck out 20 batters over 12 innings while collecting two victories. On the season Pagan has tallied a 22-4 record with a 1.30 earned runs average and 170 strikeouts. Senior Lauren Tuiskula was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Super Regional after she hit 4-of-6 with two triples and three RBI over two games. Tuiskula leads all Mammoths with a .431 batting average, a .480 on-base percentage, and a .496 slugging percentage. Senior Alena Marovitz leads the team with four home runs and 37 RBI.
 
Texas-Tyler: No. 4-ranked Texas-Tyler (44-4) is the defending NCAA Division III national champion and are making their third-straight appearance in the national championship. The Patriots have gone 5-0 in postseason play this season after sweeping East Texas Baptist in the Super Regional. The defending champions earned an at-large bid into the tournament this season after they were upset by Texas-Dallas in the ASC conference tournament. Head coach Mike Reed has a 513-107 record in his 13 seasons at the helm alongside 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Sophomore Cheyenne Thompson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tyler Super Regional after she led the team with five RBI in their two games. Thompson is hitting .426 with eight home runs and a team-leading 52 RBI heading into the championships. Kaylee Prather is the team leading in batting average hitting .503 for the season in 165 at-bats. Prather leads the team with 38 stolen bases. Senior Alaina Kissinger was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher after allowing two hits in five innings during game one of the Super Regional. Kissinger is 24-2 on the season with a 1.56 earned run average and 96 strikeouts.
 
Virginia Wesleyan: The top-ranked Marlins (48-2) are making their first NCAA Division III championship finals appearance. Currently riding a six-game shutout streak, Virginia Wesleyan is a perfect 5-0 in postseason play this season. The Marlins earned their bid to the tournament with an ODAC conference tournament championship. Head coach Brandon Elliot has a 10-year record of 347-99 with six NCAA appearances. Freshman Hanna Hull was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Virginia Beach Super Regional after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning of game two. Hull (29-2) leads the team with a 0.44 earned run average and 326 strikeouts in 189 1/3 innings. The Marlins' 0.77 team earned run average is the nation's best. Sophomore Jessica Lindsay was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Super Regional for the RBI double she hit in game two to give Virginia Wesleyan a 1-0 lead. Junior Cassetty Howerin leads the team with a .441 batting average, .530 on base percentage, 11 home runs, and 48 RBI. Junior Kiersten Richardson has stolen 60 bases this season.