MAY 8, 2026, FINDLAY, OH – Grand Rapids Community College softball is one win away from a regional championship after a dominant performance Friday afternoon in Findlay, Ohio.
The Raiders, ranked No. 1 in the tournament, rolled past Lake Michigan College 7-0 in the winners bracket final of the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Tournament, advancing to Saturday's championship game.
GRCC improved to 40-8 overall and extended its winning streak to 10 games, while Lake Michigan College, the tournament's No. 2 seed, fell to 30-10 as its 13-game winning streak came to an end.
The Raiders wasted no time taking control, erupting for five runs in the opening inning on four hits. The biggest swing came from freshman Abbie Critchett, whose pinch-hit three-run single broke the game open early and gave GRCC all the momentum it would need.
Sophomore pitcher Kalani Stowe continued her stellar postseason run in the circle. One day after recording a season-high 14 strikeouts in GRCC's opening-round victory, Stowe delivered another complete-game gem. The sophomore retired the first 11 batters she faced and allowed just three hits while striking out seven to improve to 13-4 on the season.
GRCC added to its lead in the third inning when sophomore Lillian Klop blasted a leadoff home run — her first homer of the season — to make it 6-0. Two batters later, freshman Caitlyn Horvath delivered an RBI single that scored birthday girl Libby VanFleet, pushing the advantage to 7-0.
VanFleet led the Raiders offensively with a 3-for-4 performance, while GRCC finished with 11 total hits in the shutout victory.
The Raiders will now face a familiar opponent in Saturday's championship game, as Lake Michigan College battled back through the losers bracket Friday afternoon with a win over Oakland Community College to earn a rematch with GRCC for the regional title.
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