• The state of Indiana will be well-represented at the NCAA softball Super Regionals this week.
• Catch up with the former Hoosier State standouts who will be competing on the national stage.
• Best-of-3 Super Regionals begin Thursday.

NCAA softball Super Regionals begin Thursday with the winner of these best-of-three series advancing to the Women’s College World Series. Meet the former Indiana high school stars looking to help punch their team’s ticket to Oklahoma City.

More: Who’s in Super Regionals? Updated bracket, schedule for NCAA Softball Tournament

No. 3 Oklahoma

Audrey Lowry, pitcher (Tri-West): Lowry has really come into her own as a sophomore. An All-SEC second team honoree, she is 22-3 (tied 16th nationally for wins) with a 2.61 ERA and 88 strikeouts through 120.2 innings pitched. The lefty is limiting opposing hitters to a .230 average. 

Berkley Zache, pitcher (South Bend St. Joseph): The younger Zache sister has appeared in 13 games as a true freshman, compiling a 1.95 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. She has allowed only one earned run in her past 12 appearances.

Riley Zache, catcher/infielder (South Bend St. Joseph): The sophomore has yet to appear in a game this season. She was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored last season. 

No. 6 Florida

Gabi Comia, infielder (Hanover Central): An All-SEC Defensive Team selection at second base, the sophomore has a .979 fielding percentage with only four errors on 193 chances (14 double plays). Comia’s been a factor at the plate, as well, batting a career-best .339 with 59 hits (13 doubles), 47 runs and 24 RBIs. She leads the team with 11 steals and has started in all 61 games she’s appeared in.

Kendall Grover, infielder (Mooresville): The senior Eastern Illinois transfer is among the Gators’ leaders in home runs (11), RBIs (46) and slugging percentage (.564). Grover has also doubled 11 times and maintained a .320 average. She’s been very good in the field, as well, logging a .969 fielding percentage with 30 putouts and 64 assists.

Keagan Rothrock, pitcher (Roncalli): Rothrock has continued her brilliance in the circle. She’s 29-6 with six shutouts, five saves and a 2.42 ERA. She’s racked up 179 strikeouts (25th nationally) and is limiting opposing batters to a .191 average. Rothrock pitched a seven-inning no-hitter vs. South Carolina in April, and she was lights-out in the regional, allowing only two runs on five hits in 15 innings pitched. The Roncalli grad was picked All-SEC first team and is a USA Softball Player of the Year Top-25 finalist.

No. 7 Tennessee

Maddi Rutan, third base/pitcher (Columbus North): Rutan was the ASUN Freshman and Pitcher of the Year with Eastern Kentucky in 2024. She’s been similarly impactful with the Vols, logging 23 hits, including five homers, 19 RBIs and 19 runs scored. She’s 5-for-6 on stolen base attempts and has pitched 16.2 innings, picking up two wins and 12 strikeouts.

Note: Freshman catcher Elsa Morrison grew up in Indiana and played at Carmel High School as a freshman.

No. 10 Georgia

Keirstin Roose, infielder (Lakeland): Roose, an All-SEC honoree, enters Super Regionals batting .350 with 12 doubles, a triple and 15 home runs (.684 slugging). She’s stolen a base, scored 57 runs and driven in 39 RBIs, and boasts a .932 fielding percentage. The 2021 Indiana Miss Softball finalist played her first four collegiate seasons at Coastal Carolina.

No. 11 Texas Tech

Jackie Lis, utility (Castle): One of the greatest players in Castle history, the senior Southern Illinois transfer has been excellent in her first season as a Red Raider, averaging .445. She’s hit 18 home runs, 10 doubles and three triples, and accounted for 66 RBIs (tied 25th nationally) and 49 runs scored. 

No. 12 Duke

Brookelyn Grayson, infielder (Noblesville): Grayson, a true freshman, hit an RBI double against CSU Bakersfield in her lone collegiate at-bat. 

No. 13 Oklahoma State

Melina Wilkison, outfielder (Greensburg): Wilkison made stops at Ohio State and IU before landing with Oklahoma State for her redshirt senior season. She is batting .227 with five hits, seven runs and five RBIs. The Greensburg grad has drawn two walks and is 3-for-4 on stolen base attempts.

No. 16 LSU

Kylee Edwards, infielder (Shelbyville): Edwards was tremendous her two seasons at Mississippi State and she’s been even better at LSU. An All-SEC first team pick, her .349 batting average is a career-high, as are her 60 hits, 43 runs, 10 homers and 40 RBIs. Edwards has only struck out 10 times in 172 at-bats, and holds a .963 fielding percentage with only seven errors on 188 chances. 

Char Lorenz, utility (Munster): Lorenz was an All-ACC pick as a freshman at Louisville. She’s maintained a .266 average in the Bayou with four doubles, six homers, 30 runs and 23 RBIs. Lorenz has three steals and holds a .970 fielding percentage.

Arizona State

Megan Bartlett, head coach (Terre Haute North)

Mississippi State

Paige Ernstes, catcher/infield (New Palestine): Ernstes has started in 32 of the 49 games she’s appeared in and collected 17 hits (three doubles, three homers), six runs and 18 RBIs. She’s logged 175 putouts and seven assists with zero errors in the field. 

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. 

The Indiana Fever suffered a major blow ahead of Wednesday night’s game when superstar guard Caitlin Clark was ruled out against the Portland Fire because of a back injury.

The 24-year-old All-Star was not listed on the team’s official injury report the day before.

However, following the Fever’s pregame walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon, team officials made the last-minute decision to scratch her from the lineup. While initial reports indicated the move was mostly precautionary to protect her health, the sudden benching sparked concern across the league.

This is Clark’s first missed game of the current season.

CAITLIN CLARK GIVES INSIDE LOOK AT HOW SHE’S MANAGING NAGGING INJURY: ‘NEVER BEEN THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THIS’

Unfortunately, health hurdles are nothing new for Clark.

During her highly anticipated 2025 sophomore season, recurring soft-tissue injuries and physical wear and tear completely derailed her momentum.

Clark only appeared in 13 games during that 2025 campaign, missing 27 regular-season games due to her extended time on the injury report.

Fever head coach Stephanie White and the front office have consistently made it clear that protecting Clark’s long-term wellness is the franchise’s top priority.

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The team will likely take things very slowly as they evaluate her back over the coming days before letting her return to the court. Indiana’s next game is Friday against Golden State.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela 

CHICAGO (WISH) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced more than $13 million in new grant funding for Indiana.

The funding was created to help communities across the state address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in drinking water.

EPA says in a news release issued Tuesday that the investment aims to improve water quality and public health by targeting emerging contaminants in communities that need support the most.

The new funding is part of EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program. It’s a component of a comprehensive, “lifecycle-based strategy” to address PFAS, aligning with the EPA’s commitment to ensuring clean water for all Americans, the release said.

The EPA region based in Chicago also announced similar grants of more than $22 million for Michigan and more than $20 million for Ohio.

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