The 2026 softball season rewrote the record books at Dodge City, breaking records and accomplishing many things, including the program's third trip to the NJCAA World Series and the most wins in a season for the Conquistadors.
The Conqs' season ended after a pair of tough one-run losses at the NJCAA Division I World Series in Oxford, Alabama. In the first round, the Conqs, after a long rain delay, fell 4-3 to College of Southern Idaho and then capped their season with a 7-6 loss to Gaston in an elimination game.
The 2026 season closes out with a 46-19 record for the Conqs, marking the most wins in a single season in program history, as it was only the third season with 40+ wins. The Conqs also rewrote the history books, breaking single-season team records in hits, RBI, runs scored, doubles, triples, home runs, walks, stolen bases, and slugging percentage.
1st-Round – Lost 4-3 vs College of Southern Idaho
For the first time since 2002, the Conqs took the field at the NJCAA World Series and opened the 2026 NJCAA DI World Series with a clash against College of Southern Idaho in the first round. The Conqs opened the tournament, generating some base runners early with a walk in the first and with a
Loren Sweat double and two walks had the bases loaded in the second, but were unable to score. CSI ultimately stranded two in the bottom of the second. In the third, the Conqs broke through as Sweat delivered a two-RBI single; however, CSI answered in the bottom of the frame with a two-RBI single of their own to draw even at 2-2. With rain moving in, the Conqs looked to push back in front and did so as Sweat laced a double to centerfield in the fifth, and then
Kloe Nelson singled before
Jordyn Boxberger drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-2. The skies then opened, and the game was suspended due to the weather. After a five-hour delay, the Conqs returned to the field at 6:00pm to continue the game. CSI managed a run in the sixth to tie the game at 3-3, and in then in the bottom of the seventh, CSI took advantage of some Conq miscues to take the contest 4-3.
Conqs drew seven walks but had just five hits in the contest as Sweat was 3-4 with two RBI, a run scored, and two doubles.
Riley Moore and Nelson each tallied a hit, while
Harley Shoaf and
Cadie McCracken each drew three walks.
In the circle,
Karli George was strong, giving up just four runs in 6.1 innings on three hits and six walks, while striking out six.
Elimination Game – Lost 7-6 vs Gaston
Looking to remain alive at the World Series, the Conqs took on Gaston in an elimination game and put together a furious late comeback that just fell short. Gaston grabbed the lead early behind a pair of runs in the first, and over the next three innings, the Conqs worked runners on but were unable to break through. In the bottom of the fourth, three straight hits to open the inning led to Gaston having a five-run inning and extending their lead to 7-0. The Conqs continued to fight, and after a leadoff double by
Sophie Faidley in the fifth,
Kaylee Kinsinger pinch ran and worked her way to third base. A ball hit down the third base line that hit off the bag appeared to score Kinsinger, but it was called a foul ball by the umpires, and the run was taken off the board, leading to the Conqs ultimately coming up short of scoring in the inning. After keeping Gaston off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth, the Conqs finally broke through in the sixth with two runs, and after a one-two-three bottom of the sixth, the Conqs entered the seventh with three outs to work with.
In the top of the seventh, the Conqs opened the inning off with a single by Shoaf, and after the first out, McCracken and
Avery McCloskey recorded back-to-back doubles to make it 7-4. After a fielder's choice for the second out, Sweat notched a single, and Nelson drew a walk to load the bases. George then stepped to the plate and pushed a double to left center to drive in two more runs, making it a one-run contest, but the Conqs' comeback ultimately fell just short as Gaston closed the contest, taking the game 7-6.
Conqs recorded 12 hits in the loss as Sweat again was blistering hot at the plate, going 3-4 with a run scored, while McCloskey was 3-4 with three doubles, a run scored, and an RBI. Shoaf added a 2-3 game with a run scored.
In the circle, McCloskey tossed three innings, giving up five runs on four hits and three walks, with five strikeouts, while Boxberger threw one inning. George finished the game, throwing two scoreless innings, giving up just one walk and striking out three.
