BRUNSWICK, MA - The Williams College softball team opened Championship Sunday with a semifinal victory over No.1 Tufts, before falling to No. 2 seeded Middlebury in the NESCAC Championship game, finishing the weekend as the 2026 NESCAC Runner-Up.

The Ephs concluded the 2026 season 24-17 overall. 

Game One
The No.5 Ephs defeated No. 1 seed Tufts, 8-7, in the NESCAC Semifinals on Saturday afternoon to advance to the NESCAC Conference Championship game. 

Tufts struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead, but the Ephs answered quickly in the second. Katie Blanch doubled to center field to drive Annabella Rychetsky across the plate and even the score at 1 apiece. 

The Jumbos regained the lead in the third inning with a two-run home run, but Williams responded with a huge inning of its own. 

Justine Dunaway started the rally with an RBI single before Dani Jackman delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon, blasting a three-run double to right center to give the Ephs a 5-3 advantage. Rychetsky followed with an RBI groundout to cap the four-run rally and extend the lead to 6-3.

Williams added another run in the fourth, as Dunaway singled to center field to score Lauren Davis and push the lead to 7-3.

Tufts battled back in the sixth inning with a rally of their own, scoring four runs to even the game at 7-7 after a three-run single and an RBI double.

The Ephs answered immediately in the bottom half, as Sidney Miller came through with a clutch RBI double to left center, scoring Ayane Rokugawa and regaining the Williams lead at 8-7.

Williams held on defensively in the seventh inning as they got three quick outs to secure the upset victory and punch its ticket to the NESCAC Championship game.

Jackman led the Ephs offensively with three RBIs, while Dunaway collected a pair of RBI singles in the win.

In the circle, Sadie Leonard struck out seven across 5.2 innings of work before Katie Blanch earned the win in relief, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings to close out the semifinal victory.

Game Two
The Williams College softball team fell to No. 2 seed Middlebury, 7-5, in the NESCAC Championship game.

After three scoreless innings, Middlebury broke through in the fourth with a five-run frame, taking advantage of a series of RBI groundouts and fielder's choices to build a 5-0 lead.

The Ephs responded in the fifth inning, as Haley Barrett delivered a two-run single to left field, bringing home Alysa DeQuiroz and Rokugawa to cut the lead to 5-2.

Middlebury added two more runs in the sixth inning, scoring once on a passed ball before adding a solo home run to extend the lead to 7-2.

Williams answered with a rally of its own in the bottom half, as Jackman doubled to right center to drive in a run before Miller added an RBI groundout. Barrett later drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the Ephs within two at 7-5.

Despite the late push, Williams was unable to complete the comeback as Middlebury held on to claim the conference title.

Barrett led the Ephs offensively with three RBIs, while Jackman added an RBI double in the championship effort.