WAVERLY, Iowa --- Dominican University saw its 2026 softball season draw to a close with an 8-4 loss Friday to regional host Wartburg College at the NCAA Division III Softball Championships Waverly Regional at Lynes Field.
The Stars (29-18) grabbed the lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the homestanding Knights (32-11) plated six in the fourth inning and tacked on two more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
After working around a one-out single in the top half of the opening frame, Dominican used a two-out rally in the bottom half to plate the game's first run. Raegyn Davis reached on a single to left center, then came around to score as sister Ryley blasted a double to roughly the same spot.
The Stars stranded a runner in the second, as did the Knights in the third before erupting for six runs on five hits and an error in the fourth.
Wartburg sandwiched a single around two doubles to open the fourth inning to plate two runs and chase Dominican starter Rhiannon Rubio from the contest. The Knights tacked on four more runs in the frame, hitting into four separate fielder's choices - two of which resulted in runs - while also getting RBI singles from Liz Kruckenberg and Ally Happ.
Dominican chipped into the deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth as Charlie Harris and Madisen Butler scored on a two-run double down the left-field line by Kailee Diaz Randall. Another run came across in the fifth inning as Paytin Salfi scored on an Emme Slavens pinch-hit sacrifice fly.
The hosts added two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Amanda Strzyzewski was hit by a pitch to open the frame, then came around on an RBI double to right center by Alexis Larson. Madde Buskohl plated Larson two batters later with a pinch-hit double to left center.
The Stars had a runner on base with one out in both the sixth and seventh innings, but could not cut into the Knights' advantage.
Hassel, Larson, and Jenna Wiebenga each had two hits for Wartburg - including two doubles for Larson.
Both Raegyn and Ryley Davis finished 2-for-4 at the plate for Dominican, while Diaz Randall was the only Star with multiple RBIs.
Rubio (9-5) took the loss for Dominican in the circle, allowing three earned runs on five hits while pitching into the fourth inning. Wartburg's final five runs were all charged to Liberty Rivard, who pitched 2.1 innings of relief. Hannah Richards pitched the final 1.2 innings, walking two while not allowing a run.