Minerva Pipeline: Simons and Brunner Punch Ticket to College World Series with Mount Union Softball!

ALLIANCE, OH — The University of Mount Union softball program is headed to its first-ever NCAA Division III College World Series!

The No. 12 nationally ranked Purple Raiders officially punched their ticket by sweeping UMass Dartmouth in a two-game NCAA Super Regional series, rallying for a 5-2 victory in game one and securing the clinch with a 4-1 win in game two.

A Historic Milestone for Coach Simons

At the helm of the Purple Raiders is Minerva Athletic Hall of Fame member Meghan Simons. Now in her 10th season as the head softball coach at Mount Union. This World Series berth marks a crowning achievement in her decade-long tenure leading the program.

Brunner Delivers the Climax

On the field, another Minerva graduate made sure the Purple Raiders closed the door on the Corsairs.

In the bottom of the sixth inning of game two, with Mount Union clinging to a narrow 2-1 lead, senior infielder and Minerva alum Lydia Brunner stepped to the plate with two runners on. Brunner crushed a clutch, two-RBI triple to deep center field, scoring freshman Isabella Thomas-Friend and Kaitlyn Culver.

The roaring hit extended the lead to 4-1, providing the definitive insurance runs the Raiders needed to close out the top of the seventh and spark a historic celebration on the diamond.

Brunner’s clutch hit is just another highlight in an outstanding senior campaign. She has accumulated 36 hits in 42 games this season, carrying a stellar .324 batting average into the national tournament.

What's Next

Simons, Brunner, and the rest of the Purple Raiders (35-7) will now travel to Salem, Virginia, to compete in the NCAA College World Series, which is scheduled to run from May 28 through June 3.

Minerva is incredibly proud of Coach Simons and Lydia Brunner! Best of luck at the World Series! Go Purple Raiders and Go Lions! 🦁🥎💜