NAMPA, Ida. — The Saint Martin's Softball team (32-12) faced the Simon Fraser Red Leafs in the opening contest of the 2025 GNAC Softball Championships, which turned into a duel against two of the league's top pitchers.

The first inning of competition would see the Saints get on the board after a series of walks and fielder's choices, taking a 1-0 lead that would stick through the first five innings of play. The SMU offense would continue to be tested by Bourque of Simon Fraser, but on the other side of the frame, Chloe Leverington shut down SFU. She would go all seven innings, tallying five strikeouts in her 80-pitch appearance. The teams would remain deadlocked with both defenses making plays all across the field, with both pitchers putting playoff-level competition on full display.

Simon Fraser would get a run on the board in the sixth inning before an impressive defensive stand would prevent any runners in scoring position to take the lead away from the Saints. In response, in the bottom of the seventh, Heather Ebner recorded SMU's first hit of the day on a single through the right side of the infield before Amanda Peterson would drive in an RBI to retake the lead. Leverington would shut down the top of the seventh to seal the victory for Saint Martin's, 2-1, setting the team up in the top side of the GNAC's double-elimination bracket.

WATCH: LEVERINGTON POSTGAME INTERVIEW  /  COACH PETERSON POSTGAME INTERVIEW

The Saints will face the top-seeded Western Washington Vikings tomorrow morning, May 2nd, at 9:00 AM PST (10:00 AM local time). You can get the details for the rest of the tournament, tickets, stats, and more by clicking here.