History: Reinhardt Becomes First No. 5 Seed to Advance to NAIA Softball World Series

MARION, Ind. - Reinhardt will represent the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in the 2025 NAIA Softball World Series after doing what no other team has ever done: win an NAIA Softball Opening Round as a No. 5 seed.

The Eagles win 4-0 in the Marion (Ind.) Bracket to punch their ticket to the NAIA World Series. This is the fifth time Reinhardt has advanced to the NAIA World Series but the first time since 2014.

On Monday, Reinhardt opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over No. 4 seed Coastal Georgia and followed that with a 4-2 win over top-seeded Madonna (Mich.). Reinhard then defeated No. 3 seed Rio Grande (Ohio) 7-1 on Tuesday in the winners' bracket finale.

Reinhardt played Rio Grande again on Thursday, needing only one win to advance to the NAIA World Series with Rio needing two. The RedStorm scored first, taking a 1-0 lead after the first. However, Reinhardt scored twice in the third to take a 2-1 advantage. In the fourth, Shallyn Olszowy and Maggie English added RBI hits to give the Eagles a 4-1 cushion.

Rio Grande scored again in the fifth, but could not get any closer as Reinhardt won 4-2 to win the bracket.

Reinhardt is the No. 10 seed in the 10-team, double-elimination NAIA World Series and opens play against Eastern Oregon on Thursday at 4 p.m. For a complete look at the bracket, click here.

The NAIA World Series begins on Thursday, May 22, and runs through Wednesday, May 28, at South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga.