LAKEWOOD, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves are Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Softball Champions, marking the programs first title since 2001. The ThunderWolves captured the 2026 RMAC Championship with a dominant 8-2 victory over Colorado Christian University in the championship game. 

With the victory, the ThunderWolves secured the RMAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. They will learn their postseason destination on Monday, May 11, during the NCAA Selection Show, which will be streamed live on NCAA.com. The 64-team tournament field will feature 23 automatic qualifiers and 41 at-large selections. The championship tournament concludes Wednesday, June 3, at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, where a national champion will be crowned.

The ThunderWolves captured the RMAC title with a dominant performance over Colorado Christian University, jumping out to an early lead against the Cougars. Following an RBI at-bat from Madelyn Huerta, Reese Reimler and Darleen Falcon crossed home plate to give the ThunderWolves a quick 2-0 advantage.

CCU answered in the bottom of the first inning when Arriana Wright launched a two-run homer to center field, bringing both herself and Elyse McMullin home to even the score at 2-2.

The two teams settled in defensively over the next few innings, with neither side finding the scoreboard again until the fourth. That’s when the ThunderWolves exploded offensively, erupting for six runs in the inning to take control of the game. McKenna James sparked the rally with a perfectly placed bunt that allowed Reese Reimler to race home and put the ThunderWolves back in front. Moments later, Emma Case delivered a clutch double to right-center field, driving in James, Gissel Morales-Cermeno, and Huerta to extend the lead.

The offensive surge continued when Caitlyn Cole lined a single that moved Darleen Falcon into scoring position and brought Belah Hrouda home. Falcon later crossed the plate on a CCU error, capping off the ThunderWolves’ six-run fourth inning.

The ThunderWolves defense shut the door from there, holding the Cougars scoreless for the remainder of the game behind another dominant outing from James. The senior pitched a complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out three to earn her 21st victory of the season. After the opening inning, James retired 12 of the next 14 batters she faced and silenced one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses the rest of the way.

With the championship victory, the Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves continued a historic season that has already seen the program reach the 40-win mark for the first time since 2001. CSU Pueblo now turns its attention to the NCAA Division II Tournament, where the Pack will look to continue its postseason run on the national stage.

About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.

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