Kirkwood Softball Concludes Season at National Tournament
Oxford, AL- The Kirkwood Community College softball team wrapped up another impressive season by making its 10th consecutive appearance at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. Despite a strong regular season and postseason run, the Eagles went 0-2 at nationals, falling to Johnson County on Monday and Bryant & Stratton on Wednesday to close out the 2025 campaign with a 50-18 record.
In their tournament opener against Johnson County, Kirkwood rallied late but came up just short in a 6-5 loss. The Eagles showed discipline at the plate, drawing 12 walks, and received key hits from Brenna Ross (2-for-3) and Mischa Reiners, who added a triple and an RBI. Kiya Johnson and Kinsley Theobald also chipped in with run-scoring hits. Despite outscoring Johnson County over the final two innings, a seventh-inning push wasn't enough to overcome an early deficit.
One day later, the Eagles' season came to a close with a 2-0 loss to Bryant & Stratton. Natalie Vitek and Jessa DeMoss combined to allow no earned runs, but three Kirkwood errors and a pair of seventh-inning runs from the Bobcats proved decisive. Offensively, Kirkwood managed six hits but couldn't break through against Bryant & Stratton pitcher Holly Lowenberg, who tossed a complete-game shutout. Rachael Schlotter, Kiya Johnson, and Jenna Thurm each collected hits in their final game of the season.
While the tournament didn't end as hoped, the 2025 season marked another chapter in Kirkwood's sustained excellence. With 50 wins and their 10th consecutive national tournament berth, the Eagles reaffirmed their place among the elite programs in NJCAA Division II softball.
