MAY 20, 2026, SPARTANBURG, SC – The historic postseason run for the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders softball team came to a close Wednesday afternoon in Spartanburg, South Carolina, as GRCC fell 7-3 to Cuyahoga Community College at the NJCAA Division II World Series.
The Raiders finished the season with a 42-10 overall record after advancing to the national tournament for the first time since 1998. GRCC opened the World Series with an 8-3 victory before suffering consecutive losses to top-ranked Kirkwood Community College and Cuyahoga to conclude its season.
The 2026 campaign marked one of the most successful seasons in program history, highlighted by the Raiders winning their third conference championship in the past four years and setting a new program record with 13 players earning postseason honors.
Cuyahoga struck first Wednesday, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning, though only one was earned following a Raider defensive miscue.
GRCC responded in the top of the third when Tia Schone delivered an RBI single to score Megan Lillie and trim the deficit to 2-1.
Schone continued her outstanding World Series performance, finishing the tournament batting .500 with a team-leading four hits and five RBI.
Trailing 3-1 entering the fifth inning, the Raiders appeared poised for a breakthrough after the first seven batters reached base against the Triceratops.
However, Cuyahoga's defense repeatedly recorded force outs at home plate, limiting the damage to just two runs and allowing GRCC to tie the game at 3-3.
Natalee Beck drove in one run with a double, while Lauren Wiley drew a bases-loaded walk for the tying run.
Cuyahoga answered immediately with two runs in the bottom of the fifth before adding two more in the sixth inning to pull away for the victory. Only three of the Triceratops' seven runs were earned, as the Raiders committed five errors defensively.
GRCC showed patience at the plate throughout the contest, drawing 10 walks, but managed just four hits overall from Schones, Beck, Ella Showers, and Kenady O'Leary. The Raiders also stranded 13 runners on base.
Despite the season-ending defeat, the Raiders leave Spartanburg after one of the program's most memorable years.
"This team represented GRCC with tremendous pride, resilience, and class all season long," said GRCC Director of Athletics Lauren Ferullo. "To return to the national tournament for the first time since 1998 and accomplish everything this group did is truly special. Our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff created a season that Raider softball can build on for years to come. We are incredibly proud of what they achieved.
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