Prepare for the College World Series: An MIT Softball Primer

Update:  The MIT softball team's historic run ended on May 28 with a 1-0 loss to St. John Fisher College in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. In the first round of the tournament, the Engineers defeated Illinois-Wesleyan, 2-0, for the first College World Series tournament victory in program history. MIT ends its season ranked fifth nationally, earned its first ever College World Series appearance, and set a single-season program record with 34 wins. Learn more about the MIT Softball program. 

For the first time in the 40-year history of the program, the MIT Engineers softball team will play in the Division III College World Series. The Engineers (33-12) will play Illinois Wesleyan University on Thursday, May 26, at 4:00 p.m. EDT, in Salem, VA. Read the details below on how you can watch the game online or attend in-person.

Are you new to—or a few years removed from—MIT softball? No problem! Consider this a crib sheet on all things Engineers. You’ll be an MIT softball expert before Friday’s first pitch!

• The game
• How to watch/listen
• Social media
• The Engineers
• The players
• The opponent
• Trivia

The game: MIT Engineers versus Illinois Wesleyan University (34-11), NCAA Division III College World Series, first round.

First pitch: Thursday, May 26, 4:00 p.m., Moyer Sports Complex, Salem, VA

How to watch/listen:

• In person: Tickets for Thursday’s game, which start at $7, are available in-person at Moyer Sports Complex (1000 Union St, Salem, VA 24153) on game day.
• Watch:Visit the NCAA Live livestream page beginning at 4:00 p.m. to watch online. You can also check out the NCAA’s MIT/Ill. Wesley Gamecenter page for updates and online discussion.

Social media: Follow the Alumni Association, MIT Athletics, and NCAA Division III on Twitter.  Share your excitement using the hashtags #GoTech and #NCAAD3.

The Team 

Sophomore Katherine Shade's game-ended catching helped MIT defeat WPI on May 20. Image via DAPER

The 33-12 Engineers, who went 15-3 in NEWMAC conference play, advanced to the College World Series after sweeping WPI in a three-game series at the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regionals last weekend. [View the full season results.]

In the first game, Alexandra Marshall ’16 pitched a two-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory. In the second game, the Engineers prevailed, 2-1, thanks in part to a two-run home run from Amanda Lee ’18. Lee was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and Marshall was named Most Outstanding Pitcher.

Earlier in May, the Engineers defeated nationally-ranked Williams College to win their first NCAA Division III Regional Championship. And during the regular session, the Engineers won 20 consecutive games, outscoring their opponents, 121-23, during that span.

Sixth-year Head Coach Jennifer Williams has led the Engineers to double-digit wins in five of the last six years and guided the team to its first 20-win season in 2015. Marshall was named team MVP and NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year, while centerfielder Jasmin Joseph ’18 was named to the NEWMAC all-conference first team. Catcher Tori Jensen ’16 was named an Academic All-America.  [View the full roster.]

The Players

Senior Alexandra Marshall 47 career wins are the most in the program's history. Image via MIT News

The left-handed Marshall compiled a 25-10 record and is the first pitcher in program history to win 20 games in a single season. Her 1.05 ERA and 252 strikeouts are nationally ranked in the top-10. In her career, Marshall broke the Engineers’ career record for wins (47), games (88), innings (485.2), and strikeouts (569).

First-year pitchers Ravenne Nasser '19 and Amber Banhemel '19 combined for 30 games, 8 wins, 74.2 innings, and a 2.65 ERA.

On offense, Joseph led the Engineers with a .427 batting average, 67 hits, a .474 on-base percentage, and 16 stolen bases. Jensen and shortstop Amanda Lee ’18 tied for the team lead in home runs (3) and Jensen led the team in RBI (29).

Lee and infielder Zoe Hinton ’18 combined for 46 RBI, while catcher Ali Trueworthy ’17, infielder Monica Shifflet ’17, and outfielder Katherine Shade ’18 all finished with more than 30 hits. [View all 2016 stats.]

The opponent: The 34-11 Illinois Wesleyan Titans defeated Becker College, 2 games to 1, to advance to the College World Series. Six Titans were named to the All-Great Lakes Region teams.

Trivia: Did you know?

• Assistant coach Amanda Jason ’08 played four years for the Engineers from 2005–2008.
• Head coach Jen Williams is also MIT’s Director of Varsity Strength and Conditioning, serving the Engineers’ 33 varsity teams.
• The Engineers program has three no-hitters in its history: Amber Crabbe ’00, in 1998; Leah Bogsted ’08 in 2005; and a perfect game from Ellie Fodor ’15 in 2015.