PRESQUE ISLE, ME
The UMPI Softball team's season will continue on Thursday when they take on SUNY Cobleskill in the first round of the North Atlantic Conference Tournament held at Husson University, in Bangor. The Owls earned the number six seed.
The Owls enjoyed their winningest season since 2019, going 15-18 on the regular season, and 9-7 in NAC play. After an 0-8 start, UMPI went on a run, winning nine of their next 11 games, and firmly placed themselves in the playoff picture. Their hitting was among the league's best, finishing just two points below nationally ranked Husson in team batting average (.331).
Gracelyn Walsh and Zoe Stewart were the tandem that could not be stopped and one of the toughest heart of the order duos in the conference. Walsh led the league in a plethora of categories as she campaigns for Player of the Year during her senior season. Stewart was tied with Walsh for second most home runs in the conference at seven.
With just 11 players, the Owls truly played as one unit all year long and it was all hands on deck from the start. Transfers Madison Boynton and Keira Greene made an immediate impact, as well as getting senior Hailey Saylor back and healthy and shortstop, along with fellow senior veteran Megan Buchholz at second base, sophomore centerfielder Abby Doughty and junior catcher Sabrina Kauffman. This made UMPI a very tough defensive team up the middle.
The Owls qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2023, a year in which they went 12-23. UMPI will take on #3 SUNY Cobleskill in the first round of the six-team, double elimination bracket. That game will take place at 12pm on Thursday, May 7th. If the Owls win, they will move on to play #2 Thomas on Thursday at 4pm. If they lose their first round game, they will enter the loser's bracket and play at 9am on Friday, May 8th. If they beat Cobleskill, then lose to Thomas, they will play in the loser's bracket at 11am on Friday.
You can refer to the Tournament bracket on this page
Be sure to stay tuned to UMPI Owls Athletics for updates on the tournament as well as livestream information. You can also follow the official NAC Tournament page here.
