INDIANAPOLIS – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team saw its season come to an end after an 8-5 loss to Indianapolis in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Final on Saturday evening. The Cardinals (39-16) led 4-2 after the first three innings, but the Greyhounds (59-5) scored six runs in three innings to take the lead and secure the win.
A solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning gave UIndy a 1-0 lead early, but the SVSU defense got out of the inning without further damage.
Emma Helvie (Markle, Ind. / Huntington North HS) got things going in the second for Saginaw Valley after she singled to center field to get on base. Mya Purdy (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea HS) followed with an infield single to move Helvie to second base. Ella Reifschneider (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville HS) hit a sacrifice bunt to move Purdy to second and pinch runner Emily Schmeltz (Union, Ky. / Cooper HS) to third.
Natalie Savage (Howell, Mich. / Howell HS) jacked a deep fly over the left center field wall for a three-run home run, and the Cardinals pulled ahead 3-1 going into the home half of the second inning.
A triple to right center scored a run for the Greyhounds in the bottom of the second to trim the deficit to 3-2.
A passed ball scored Jenna Morse (Bay City, Mich. / Bay City Central HS) in the top of the third to widen the gap to 4-2.
A single and a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth allowed UIndy to knot things up at four runs apiece.
The Greyhounds took the lead in the fifth with a two-RBI single to move ahead 6-4. Two more runs would score for UIndy in the sixth to go ahead 8-4 with the Cardinals having just three more outs to tie or take the lead, and extend the game.
Two groundouts on the first two at-bats put SVSU down to one last chance to rally in the seventh. GLIAC Player of the Year Olivia Elliott (Baroda, Mich. / Berrien Springs HS) responded with a solo home run to left field to bring the score to 8-5.
Kate Pnacek (Coleman, Mich. / Coleman HS) walked to get on base and extend the inning, but the Greyhounds forced a third groundout on the ensuing at-bat to seal the win and end SVSU's season.
Savage led the way for the Cardinals with two hits and a team-best three RBI. Elliott had two hits, a run, and an RBI. Purdy was 2-for-2 with a run scored in the losing effort. Kimble (L, 18-9) pitched the final two innings of the game and struck out a Greyhound hitter. Macy Irelan (Owosso, Mich. / Owosso HS) earned the start and went 4.0 innings with five hits, four earned runs, and two strikeouts in her appearance.
SEASON WRAP-UP: The Cardinals finish the 2026 season with a 39-16 overall record. It is the fifth-straight season with over 30 wins for the program. SVSU also matched a program best 23 wins in GLIAC play after claiming its third conference Regular Season crown, second outright, and the fifth-straight GLIAC Tournament Championship. The Cardinals are only the second GLIAC team to win five tournaments in a row. SVSU also claimed the GLIAC Player of the Year award, with Olivia Elliott earning the distinction. Aalana Kimble became the third-consecutive Cardinal pitcher to win GLIAC Pitcher of the Year, and Ryan Schalk grabbed his third-straight GLIAC Coach of the Year honor.
