BANGOR, Maine – After an extra-inning thriller, Thomas College advances to the championship game of the 2026 NAC Softball Tournament following a 9-8 nine-inning victory over SUNY Delhi.
Thomas will now face Husson University in Saturday’s title game, scheduled for 1:00 PM, seeking their first softball championship since 2017.
Thomas College got things started in the second inning with a four-run burst fueled by four hits and a Delhi error. Leah Knight, Carlie Jarvais, and Morgan Duhaime all crossed the plate on Brooklyn Federico’s single after a throwing error advanced the runners and gave the Terriers a 3-0 lead. Maddy Morris followed with an RBI double to left field to score Federico and extend the advantage to 4-0.
Delhi answered in the fourth inning, matching Thomas with four runs on five hits. The Broncos opened the frame with a double to left field before a single moved the runner to third. Riley Martin later stole second, and another single loaded the bases. After a play at the plate resulted in an out, Delhi delivered a two-run RBI single before another RBI single to the right side tied the game at 4-4.
The Broncos grabbed their first lead in the fifth inning when a single to left field and productive outs moved the runner into scoring position. Riley Martin then drove home the go-ahead run with an RBI single through the left side to make it 5-4.
Thomas responded in the sixth with two runs to reclaim a 6-5 lead. Jarvais reached on a throwing error and later scored an unearned run as the Terriers capitalized on another Delhi miscue.
Delhi answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, using back-to-back doubles from Samantha Martin and Dickel to plate the tying run and even the score at 6-6.
After a scoreless seventh forced extra innings, Thomas broke through in the top of the ninth. Jarvais singled to third base and advanced on another Delhi throwing error. The Terriers then scored two runs on a Broncos error to take an 8-6 lead before Federico added an RBI single to score Knight and push the advantage to 9-6.
Delhi mounted one final rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs on two hits, but Thomas held on to secure the 9-8 victory.
Thomas Leaders:
- Brooklyn Federico: 3-for-5, 1 R, 4 RBIs, 1 BB
- Maddy Morris: 2-for-6, 1 RBI, 2B
- Leah Knight: 2 BB, SH, SB
- Megan Oberholzer: 2-for-5, 1 BB
- Morgan Duhaime: 2-for-2, 1 R
- Carlie Jarvais: 2-for-5 3 R
- Lillian Noyes: 9.0 IP, 15 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
SUNY Delhi Leaders:
- Julian Ponce: 2-for-3, 1 BB, 2B
- Stephanie Huckabee: 2-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBIs, SB (2)
- Riley Martin: 2-for-4, 4 RBIs, SF