The Case Western Reserve University softball team continued its recent run of success with its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2025. The Spartans finished the season with a record of 30-12 and went 13-5 in University Athletic Association contests.
For the fourth year in a row, Case Western Reserve was selected to host one of the 16 four-team regionals during the first rounds of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Spartans, seeded second in the four-team bracket, opened the postseason with a 10-2 five inning win over third-seeded Lebanon Valley. After falling to top-seeded Wisconsin-Whitewater in eight innings the following day, CWRU defeated LVC again in an elimination game to reach its third regional final in the last four years. However, the hosts fell to the Warhawks 7-3, ending the team's season at Mather Park.
The Spartans began the season with a trip to Georgia for six games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. CWRU went 5-1 against six eventual postseason teams, including two national finalists. The team's lone loss was by one run to eventual national champion Trine, while its five wins came against teams ranked in the top 10, including top-ranked East Texas Baptist.
The team's schedule did not get easier as the Spartans traveled to California for eight games during the university's spring break. Three of those eight games were against postseason qualifiers, and the team went 4-4 on the trip. CWRU remained on the road the following week for a three-game series against WashU to open conference play. The Spartans won one of the three games during the weekend against the eventual conference champion, the sole team in the league to defeat the Bears during the season.
Case Western Reserve then played 10 of its next 13 games on campus, going 11-2 over the three-week stretch. The team swept a pair of doubleheaders from non-conference foes before taking two of three from postseason qualifier Emory in Atlanta. Back at home, the Spartans swept a three-game series with NYU, highlighted by a no-hitter thrown by senior Kylie Hosey, and defeated Chicago twice in a three-game set. The Spartans wrapped up UAA play by winning five of their final six games against Brandeis and Carnegie Mellon with a doubleheader sweep of Hiram in between.
The team was led on offense by graduate student infielder KaiLi Gross, who finished her time on campus with 13 career program records. Gross, who was named to the NFCA All-America First Team at second base, paced the Spartans in batting average (.437), on-base percentage (.481), slugging percentage (.810), runs scored (45), RBI (45), doubles (16), triples (two), and home runs (11). She also set single-game program records for doubles, triples, and runs scored during the 2025 season. In 20 of the team's 42 games, Gross recorded at least two hits, and she ended her career with hits in her final eight contests, including two home runs during the postseason. Gross received an All-UAA First Team selection for the fourth time in her career, the most in program history for a hitter.
Senior catcher Katelyn Lamm had a career year both at the plate and behind it, earning UAA Position Player of the Year, All-UAA First Team, and All-Region Third Team honors. She had a .381 batting average, .433 on-base percentage, and .643 slugging percentage during the season, slugged seven home runs and 12 doubles (both career highs), and went four-for-four in the elimination game victory over Lebanon Valley. Lamm recorded a hit in 18 of her final 19 games and had a team-high 10-game hitting streak during conference play. Defensively, she caught 14 runners attempting to steal in 31 chances, a 45% success rate, and had a .981 fielding percentage.
For the fourth year in a row, the Spartans were led in the circle by senior pitcher Lexi Miskey, the program record holder for wins, strikeouts, earned run average, and opponents' batting average. Miskey went 19-5 during the season with a 2.62 ERA in 34 appearances, logging six complete games and a shutout. She struck out 165 batters in 152 and one-third innings, punching out at least 10 batters in three contests. Miskey earned an All-Region Second Team selection and All-UAA First Team honors for the fourth time in her career, the most for a pitcher in program history.
Hosey was the team's other main hurler during the season, going 10-7 with a 3.16 ERA in the circle. She set the program record with five saves in 2025, finishing with nine for her career, and ended her four years on campus with 51 wins and a 2.46 ERA, which both rank fourth in program history.
In addition to Gross, the rest of the infield remained consistent for the Spartans during the 2025 season. Sophomore Karen Potts started all 42 games at shortstop, earning All-UAA Second Team honors after receiving Rookie of the Year honors in 2024. Potts hit .356 and was second on the team in runs scored with 43 and RBI with 33, slugging 13 doubles. She also reached base in 39 of the team's 42 games with a 23-game streak in the middle of the season. Junior Elizabeth Berry was a constant at the hot corner, hitting .317 in 42 contests. She had 12 multi-hit games during the campaign and slugged her first career home run against Belhaven in March. Senior Isabella Russo wrapped up an impressive career with a 42-start season at first base, hitting .364 with five home runs and 32 RBI. She graduated with the second-most games played (173) and games started (171) in program history, hitting .346 across four seasons with 112 runs, 115 RBI, and 14 home runs.
Sophomore Nylah Durham started all 42 games in center field, hitting .236 and stealing a team-high 18 bases on 19 attempts. First-year Kate Coonan appeared in every contest, making 34 starts in the outfield, and first-year outfielder Ashley Miller hit .318 in 37 games for CWRU. First-year Lacey Lara made an impact from the designated player spot, hitting .270 in 34 games, and sophomore outfielder Alaina Steffes slugged three home runs in 37 games.
The team excelled in the classroom as well as on the field during the 2025 season. 12 members of the squad earned UAA All-Academic recognition and five were named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. Gross was named to the CSC Academic All-America First Team for the third time in her career and received Academic All-America honors for the fourth time, tying the CWRU record for most in a single sport. Lamm received Academic All-America Second Team honors for the first time in her career.
The Spartans earned the following honors during the 2025 season:
The following were the Spartan statistical leaders during the 2025 season:
*indicates single-season program record
