The 2025 softball team shattered almost every record the powerhouse 2024 team had set as they earned the program’s first-ever trip to a national tournament.
Head coach Shawna Cyrus’ team started the year 14-0 and earned votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Poll for the first time in school history. By the close of the regular season, softball had amassed new records for wins (29) and conference victories (21).
In the Northwest Conference Tournament, Lewis & Clark dropped their first game to No. 3 George Fox University before rallying for wins over No. 4 Pacific Lutheran University and No. 3 George Fox. Mari Alvarez BA ’24, now studying at the graduate school, and Sam Gildersleeve BA ’25 each hit RBI doubles in the bottom of the eighth inning against Pacific Lutheran to earn a 4-3 walk-off win.
A 7-5 victory over the Bruins two days later secured softball an at-large bid and their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Lewis & Clark had a few more program firsts left in their historic 2025 season. L&C took on Chapman University in the first game of the McMinnville Regional and fell behind 4-1 entering the final inning. Alvarez, Harper Campanella BA ’27, and Lacey Marglin BA ’26 all came through with RBI hits in the top of the seventh to force extra innings. In the eighth, Madison Scroggins BA ’26 plated the go-ahead run with a single, and Alvarez crushed a two-run homer to seal Lewis & Clark’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win (7-4). Softball finished their season 32-13, and eight players earned All-Conference honors. Cyrus was named the NWC Coach of the Year for the first time in her 16-year career. Emily Patton BA ’26 and Gildersleeve were each selected to the All-Region Team.
