Phoenix College Bounced Back with 3-1 Win Over Illinois Central
After dropping their tournament opener, Phoenix College (46-6) responded with a strong 3-1 victory over Illinois Central College (31-22) on Wednesday morning at the NJCAA Division II Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama.
The Bears opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single from Katie Hofmann. After Illinois Central tied it in the bottom half, Phoenix reclaimed the lead with a two-run fourth inning sparked by Ava Kupczyk's RBI groundout and a run-scoring single from Penelope Hurtado.
Phoenix totaled nine hits and capitalized on two Cougar errors to notch three unearned runs. Maddison Peter (23-1) earned the win, allowing just one run on three hits over 4.2 innings. Yasmine Bernal came on in relief to toss 2.1 scoreless innings and pick up the save.
The Bears then faced another elimination game on later on Wednesday against Johnson County.
Phoenix College's remarkable 2024-25 campaign came to a close in heartbreaking fashion with a 2-1 loss to Johnson County Community College in the NJCAA Division II Softball World Series.
The Bears (54-8) led for most of the game behind a first-inning sacrifice fly from Harli Noriega that plated J'kaia' Graves. But Johnson County (36-16) strung together timely hits in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice to walk it off and advance in the tournament, eliminating Phoenix College from national title contention.
Yasmine Bernal (26-7) pitched valiantly in her final outing, holding the Cavaliers scoreless through six innings before surrendering a pair of runs in the final frame. She struck out five while scattering six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings.
Despite outhitting Johnson County 6-3 through six innings and committing no errors, the Bears couldn't extend their lead after the first inning. Phoenix stranded eight runners on base in a game where opportunities were few and far between.
The Bears' 2024-25 season was nothing short of spectacular. They finished with a 54-8 overall record and returned to the NJCAA Division II World Series for another deep run. Along the way, they showcased a blend of veteran leadership and rising talent, earning national respect as one of the country's premier programs.
Head coach Heinz Mueller and his squad will now turn the page, proud of a season that upheld Phoenix College's tradition of excellence and laid the groundwork for another strong campaign in 2026.
