The Official Athletics Site of Truett McConnel University

MOBILE, Ala. (May 13, 2026) — On Wednesday, The Truett McConnell Softball Team concluded its historic 2026 season while competing in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Lady Bears made program history this season by capturing the program's second Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and completing the tournament with the first undefeated championship run in program history.

Traveling to Mobile, Alabama as the No. 5 seed in the Opening Round, TMU faced No. 4 seed Indiana Tech University and No. 3 seed Campbellsville University. The Lady Bears finished the tournament 0-2 to close out the season. Truett McConnell ends the 2026 campaign with an overall record of 30-19, 15-11 AAC. 

PLAY-BY-PLAY

GAME 1

TMU 0 - ITU 5

After three scoreless innings to begin the game, Indiana Tech broke through in the bottom of the third before adding four runs in the fourth inning to secure the victory. TMU recorded five hits in the contest, led by Rylee Walker, Grace Folds, Morgan Kacalek, Emma Skipper, and Avery Walker, who each collected a hit.

Gabby Hughes earned the start in the circle, while Elizabeth Bennett tossed three scoreless innings of relief.

GAME 2 

TMU 2 - CU 3

Campbellsville struck first in the opening inning, but the Lady Bears responded in the fourth when Folds scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1. TMU then grabbed its first lead in the sixth inning as Cassie Boatright came around to score on an RBI groundout from Kacalek, giving the Bears a 2-1 advantage. Campbellsville answered in the bottom of the sixth to even the score and later pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to secure the 3-2 final.

Elizabeth Bennett delivered a strong start in the circle, working 7.2 innings and allowing just three runs while striking out six. Offensively, Folds led the way with a double and a run scored, while Boatright also crossed home plate and helped spark the middle of the lineup. Kacalek accounted for TMU's RBI with her sixth-inning groundout.

Congratulations to your TMU Softball team on one of the most successful seasons in program history. 

Keep up with the Lady Bears throughout the 2025-26 season here on tmbears.com and follow us on Facebook (@TMUBears), Instagram (@TMUBears) and X (@TMUBears).